Lal Bahadur Thakuri, 78, of Khairang in Raksirang Rural Municipality, Makwanpur, had to be taken to Hetauda every time he felt unwell. But now with an auxiliary health worker stationed at Khairang Health Post, Thakuri does not have to make frequent trips to Hetauda.

“Earlier there were no health workers here at the health post. They were stationed at Hetauda and we had to go there even for minor ailments,” said Thakuri.

Since the adoption of federalism, all health posts were brought under the ambit of the local units. In Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, this move took off successfully with health posts established in all eight wards. Villagers in remote areas of Makwanpur have hugely benefitted from the establishment of health posts.

According to Dasarath Shrestha of Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, the health post only had an office assistant and auxiliary nurse midwives providing treatment to patients in the past. But now all the health posts have sufficient staff. “Until a few years ago, Sukaura Health Post in Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality Ward No. 7 would open only till 2 pm, but these days the health post is open up to 5 pm,” said Shrestha.

Bidur Humagain, chairman at the Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, said that the local representatives have been regularly inspecting the health facilities. “Absenteeism among health workers was a major concern earlier, but now, under constant monitoring, absenteeism is not an issue,” said Humagain.

The local units release the budget for health facilities for disbursement of salary and allowance to health workers, making the functions of the health posts directly accountable to the local units, said Humagain. “The budget for the health post is released on time making services more accessible to patients.”

Senior auxiliary health worker Bhola Chaulagain, the health coordinator of Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality, said that health workers are available at every health facility to attend to the sick. “We have been making efforts to improve the health care service in the municipality,” said Chaulagain.

In the fiscal year 2018/19, 183 pregnant women from Makwanpurgadhi Rural Municipality opted for institutional delivery in various health facilities. Only 113 women had visited their local health facilities to give birth in the previous fiscal year. This goes to show that the facilities available at the health posts in rural areas of Makwanpur have encouraged pregnant women to visit health facilities, Chaulagain said.