GORKHA: Health posts in Gorkha district are still awaiting reconstruction 16 months after the massive earthquake struck Nepal.

Of the total of 54 health posts ravaged by the quake, only the buildings in Srinathkot, Gankhu, Shera and Dharpani have been reconstructed.

Many national and international organisations had pledged to reconstruct the buildings, but the patients are forced to receive treatments under makeshift tents till today.

Durbang Health Post's Assistant Health Worker Pushpa Kumar Rauniyar says it is not easy to take care of the sick under a tent which heats up in sweltering weather conditions and leaks during rain.

Around 40 patients visit the health post daily. Most of them are found suffering from fever, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Health Post Chief Binita Shrestha Pradhan says storing the medicines, examining the health condition of the patients and keeping the medicinal supplies safe have been challenging for the institution.

"Due to the hot weather, the medicines have melted," she says, adding "We have stored the medicines in the damaged building."

The health workers are starting to show signs of fatigue after working relentlessly in the tents. The health posts in Dhawa, Aarupokhari, Phujel, Lapu, Gumda, Durbang, Takukot, Dhyalcho among other places are operating from under the tents for the past 16 months, District Public Health Office Reconstruction Programme Chief, Nani Babu Dani, says.

Meanwhile, the construction of Durbang health post building started from Thursday.