The Kotdewal Health Post building, located in Mashta Rural Municipality-1, was damaged in an earthquake, and even after a year, health services continue to be affected due to the lack of reconstruction. Following the quake, health services have been provided under a tarpaulin.
The Kotdewal Health Chowki building in Mashta Rural Municipality-1 was damaged in the earthquake on October 3, 2023. As a result, patients with both common and complex illnesses, as well as pregnant women and those in the postnatal period, are experiencing significant difficulties. Jhalak Okheda from Mashta Rural Municipality-1 expressed concern that admitted patients have to stay under a tarpaulin and are unable to bear the daytime heat.
After the Kotdewal Health Post was completely damaged, maternity services have been operating from tents. Prakash Khadka, Chief of the Kotdewal Health Post, stated that following the destruction of the health post building, all services have been initiated from tarpaulin shelters. He stated that the health center building itself is in a state of disrepair. During the summer, treating patients under the tarpaulin presents numerous challenges. Unfortunately, the health center has no other option. Even after a year, there has been no concern regarding the reconstruction of the health post building.
Ramchandra Rokaya, Chairperson of Mashta Rural Municipality-1, said that while the health center has been serving patients since September last year, pregnant women and new mothers are facing many difficulties. He mentioned that due to the ward office’s budget constraints, constructing the health post building was not feasible. Therefore, requests were made to the municipality, provincial, and federal governments to arrange the necessary budget, and they have prepared to operate health services from the ward office until the building is constructed.
