When Harka BK suffered chest pain a few months ago, he wanted to visit a good hospital or clinic for a check up. But he did not rush to the health institutions due to financial constraints. BK, who is in his mid-40s and lives at Jugeda See village in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City-12, got an opportunity for his health check up after the sub-metropolis organised a mobile health camp at his ward.

The doctor examined him and carried out an electrocardiogram (ECG), BK said. “After the doctor assured me that I didn’t have any serious illness in heat, I was relieved and returned home happy,” he said.

Sunmati BK, a pregnant woman from Syaule in Dhangadhi-15, visited the health camp organised at her ward on August 30. She got specialist service from a gynaecologist. The medical team carried out an ultrasound and assured her that she and her baby are in good health condition.

Many people like Harka and Sunmati have been benefited after Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City started organising ‘specialist ward health clinic’ camp since the last fiscal year. The camp is organised in each ward monthly. A team comprising a physician and gynaecologist provide specialist health services to the needy people.

“The camp has especially benefited pregnant women and senior citizens,” said Manju Thakulla, a staff nurse at Beli Health Post in Dhangadhi.

The mobile health clinic provides ultrasound, ECG and blood test services free of cost. More than 100 patients visit the mobile health clinic on a daily basis, according to Thakulla. “Earlier, patients used to get health service from paramedics like us. They get specialist service now,” she said. According to her, the health team refers the patients to the hospital if they need immediate treatment at the health institution.

Dhangadhi Sub-metropolis mayor, who won election as an independent candidate, said that ‘specialist ward health clinic’ was organised with an objective to provide quality health services to the impoverished communities of the rural areas. “It has been more than a year since the clinic was launched and we have received good feedback from the locals and other stakeholders,” he said.

The sub-metropolis has organised the ‘specialist ward health clinic’ in collaboration with the private sector. An agreement was signed between the sub-metropolis and Bhat-bhateni Super Store in Dhangadhi according to which the superstore bears costs of two specialist doctors for five years. Similarly, the Social Development Ministry of Sudurpaschim Province provided health equipment and tools worth around Rs2.5 million for the mobile health clinic.

“Pharmaceutical entrepreneurs and other organisations donate us medicines required for the clinic,” said Hamal, who has provided his personal vehicle provided by the government to the ‘specialist ward health clinic’.

There are a total of 19 wards in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City of Kailali district. Krishna Bohara, chief of the sub-metropolis’s health unit, said the ‘specialist ward health clinic’ is organised in each ward on a rotational basis and it has provided service to over 135,000 patients so far.