PALUNG, MAKAWANPUR: Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology -- under the Nepal Eye Programme and in coordination with Thaha Municipality and Community Eye Hospital, Hetauda -- has established a Community Eye Centre in Palung of Makawanpur district.

Chief Minister of Province 3, Dormani Poudel, today inaugurated the building of the Community Eye Centre to start operation of eye health services in Thaha Municipality-3 with the support of Vision Himalaya Foundation.

On the occasion, CM Poudel expressed commitment to provide support for the development of Thaha Municipality through development in health and education sectors.

The municipality has provided over two ropani land for construction of the eye centre building at a cost of Rs 4 million. There had been an agreement between Thaha Municipality and Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology in the Nepali month of Baishakh, 2075 BS for construction of the four-room eye centre.

As per the agreement, the municipality had agreed to provide land for building construction of the eye centre, build motorable road to the building, level the land on which the building was to be constructed, as well as make provisions for drinking water, electricity, telephone line, sewage system.

Likewise, the agreement stated that the building would be constructed by Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology under the Nepal Eye Programme.

The Institute had been providing eye treatment on a monthly basis from a room at Palung Primary Health Centre since 2070 BS.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were provincial assembly member Deepak Niraula, chief of Hetauda Eye Hospital Dr Sunil Thakali, former local development officer Bhuwan Prakash Bista, general secretary of Thaha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Surendra Man Pradhan, among others.