After the health posts came under the ambit of the local units, locals residing in remote areas of Makwanpur district have been getting regular health services. Since the respective local units have taken an active interest in the effective running of the health posts, absenteeism among health workers has become a thing of the past.

Dasrath Shrestha, a teacher, said, “Health staff have started working regularly. There has been an improvement in the health service following the election of local representatives.” Shrestha said that the health post chief regularly takes charge and the facilities remain open from 10am to 5pm daily, as opposed to only a few hours of operation earlier.

Likewise, the local units at Makwanpurgadi and Raksirang Rural Munici-palities have allocated Rs3 million and Rs3.2 million respectively to ensure smooth operations and effective service delivery.

“We are trying our best to improve the health facilities here. It is impossible to achieve development without a proper health care system in place,”said Makwanpurgadi Rural Municipality Chairman Bidur Humagain, “Earlier, there were only four health posts in our rural municipality, but we have increased the number to eight now. This has enabled the health facilities to extend their services on a regular basis.”

Lala Bahadur Thakuri, 78, of Khairang in Raksirang Rural Municipality said, “Earlier, the health post chiefs would stay in Hetauda but now they are always in the health posts to treat patients.”