Bajura, October 31

Kolti Primary Health Centre has been without a doctor for the past one month in Bajura. The health facility has been without a doctor ever since Dr Ganesh Chaudhary was transferred under the Civil Servants’ Adjustment process.

Assistant Health Worker Lokendra Neupane said Dr Chaudhary was transferred and a new doctor was yet to replace him.

Around 80 patients visit the health centre on a daily basis.

According to in-charge at the health centre Omjung Shahi, patients are referred to Nepalgunj, Martadi and other health facilities for want of a doctor.

Patient Apsara BK of Sappata in Swamikartik Rural Municipality is being treated at Kolti Primary Health Centre as she could not be taken to other health facility for lack of money, said Apsara’s relatives.

The centre has one quota for medical doctor. Though there are three quotas for AHWs, it has just one AHW working at the centre. Only two auxiliary nurse-midwives have been working at the centre despite the quota for three AHWs.

Budhinanda Municipality Ward No 1 Chairperson Nripraj Khatri said that patients were forced to pay exorbitant fares to go to Nepalgunj for treatment.

The health centre has been delivering health services to 50,000 people from Humla, Mugu and Kalikot, apart from Bajura.

A local, Janesh Bhandari said the government was showing apathy in sending a doctor to the centre for people’s service. District Hospital Bajura Chief Rupchandra Biswokarma, however, said efforts were on to bring a new doctor.