Ramechhap, October 29

Though over a year has gone by after the devastating earthquakes, a primary health centre at Khimti VDC of Constituency No 1, Ramechhap, is still operating from a makeshift tent.

Health workers at the centre had started delivering service from the makeshift tent provided by UNICEF immediately after the quake damaged the centre’s building.

The health workers said it was very difficult to provide health care from the tent due to lack of proper infrastructure and equipment.

The health centre has been providing parturition service from the tent for want of a building. Locals of Ramechhap have demanded that the health centre be immediately shifted to a safe building.

The primary health centre is supposed to provide round-the-clock service and has quota for one medical doctor. A health worker at the centre complained that the lack of building had mostly hampered service delivery at night.

For want of an alternative, medical tools and equipment of the health centre have been kept at the quake-damaged building.

Mira Shrestha, health worker at the centre, said they usually took out the required medical equipment from the dilapidated building amid great fear.

More than 25 primary health centres were damaged by the quake in the district. District Public Health Office, Ramechhap said all health centres in the district are struggling to provide effective health care after the earthquake.

The district hospital only recently shifted to a newly-constructed building.