Surgical Services Launched at Rasuwa District Hospital Ease Burden for Locals

Rasua. The availability of surgical services at the Rasuwa District Hospital in Dhunche has brought relief to the local residents. From the fiscal year 2081/82 until the end of Poush in the current fiscal year, the hospital's outpatient department served 11,598 patients, and the inpatient department served 3,066 patients. A total of 115 surgeries were performed during the same period.

Information provided during a recently organized social accountability program by the hospital indicated that the 17-bed hospital is distributing 185 types of medicines under social service. Furthermore, 66 citizens over 30 years of age received free treatment services under the 'Chief Minister's Public Health Program'.

The health service, which began as a 'Health Post' in BS 2021, was upgraded to a hospital in BS 2042 during its expansion. It is reported that Dr. Bijay Khanal provided the first service at the hospital at that time.

Participants in the program offered various suggestions to make the hospital's services more effective and demanded an immediate provision of a new ambulance. The Nik Simon organization provides medical and other support to the hospital. Surgical services such as appendicitis, hernia, hydrocele, and wound/sore treatment are regularly operational at the hospital. Additionally, X-ray, dental, and laboratory services have also been expanded.

At the program, Public Health Officer Jhamprasad Acharya informed that the hospital's services are continuously improving. Babulal Tamang, Chairman of the Civil Society, stated that the availability of modern treatment services is a positive change from the past situation where reliance on traditional healers (Dhami-Jhankri) was necessary.

The devastating earthquake of BS 2072 completely destroyed the old structures of the hospital. Following this, there was a period of about two years where patients had to be kept in 'tents' to provide services. The tireless contribution of the then Senior Public Health Officer Dr. Guna Sharma was crucial in immediately resuming hospital services. Service delivery became smoother after the construction of a prefabricated model hospital with support from the Nepal Red Cross Society and foreign donor agencies.

The Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Amit Kumar Sah, stated that even complex treatment services are now possible at the hospital.

At the program, Dr. Sunil Kumar Das, Chairman of the Management Committee Nivesh Shrestha, Public Health Officer Acharya, and others provided information regarding service improvements and outlined future tasks. Federation of Journalists Chairman Keshav Prasad Poudel and various journalists praised the hospital's transparency and practice of social accountability.