Dec 21, Kathmandu - Kailali's Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City has been making significant improvements in this area in recent times, increasing access to health services for citizens. The sub-metropolitan city has launched a campaign to provide free specialist health services at the doorsteps of citizens by operating programs such as specialist ward health clinics.

After Gopal Hamal was elected mayor in the 2079 BS local level elections, he started the ward health clinic service from Shrawan 2079 BS. Since it was started targeting the poor and needy citizens in rural areas, citizens with weak financial conditions have benefited.

Krishna Bohara, a source for the program, informed that 15,023 people have availed services from the specialist ward health clinic during the period from Shrawan to mid-Mangsir of the current fiscal year. According to him, 11,194 women and 3,829 men have availed services during that period.

According to him, free services are being provided by a general physician, a gynecologist and obstetrician, as well as an ophthalmologist in collaboration with Geta Eye Hospital and Dhangadhi Netralaya for the program.

Source Bohara said that during the period, 9,310 people have sought services from a gynaecologist, 1,580 women from a gynaecologist and obstetrician, and 4,133 people from eye disease.

He said that 9,771 people have sought laboratory services at the clinic, 1,773 from an ECG service, 1,901 pregnant women have sought services, and 722 people have sought ultrasound services, and 3,735 people above the age of 70 have sought services.

Source Bohara said that the program, which aims to provide free specialist health services to the doorsteps of the poor, is being conducted in all 19 wards every month. According to the Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, 33,141 women and 11,310 men have sought services from the program in the last fiscal year.