KATHMANDU: The United States Embassy in Kathmandu said the US government would reconstruct the Barhabise Primary Health Care Centre in an earthquake-safe mode.

The US Agency for International Development would invest USD 1.9 million while the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) would implement the construction.

In a statement today, the US mission said the existing buildings would be demolished before the reconstruction in a full compliance with the Ministry of Health standards.

US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz and Minister for Health Ram Janam Chaudhary jointly unveiled the plan of reconstruction today.

“The US government stood with Nepal in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake (last year) with humanitarian aid, and we continue to support ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts," Teplitz said at the ceremony, "This new Bahrabise Primary Health Care Center shows the US government’s strong commitment to reconstruction and to ensure healthcare access to those affected by the disaster.”

The USAID and the Ministry of Health had jointly identified the Bahrabise PHCC as a high-priority site for reconstruction based on the facility’s large catchment area, according to the statement.

"Once rebuilt, this 10-bed health centre will provide a full range of health care services, such as maternal and child health, to an estimated 112,000 people, and serve about 4,000 patients per month."