Health minister commends female health volunteer

Minister for Health and Population Bhawani Prasad Khapung commended that the female community health volunteers (FCHVs) were effectively conveying matters concerning public health to the community.

Minister Khapung lauded the role of FCHVs at a programme organized here on Monday by the Nursing and Social Security Division under the Ministry of Health and Population on the occasion of 19th National Female Community Health Volunteers Day.

Stating that FCHVs were effectively sensitizing public about facilities, services provided by the State in the health sector, Khapung spoke of the need to make country's FCHVs more people-oriented.

Expressing his concern about public facing sheer difficulties due to ignorance about services being rendered by the State-sponsored for the heart, liver and kidney among others ailments, the Minister appealed to the FCHVs to impart information on the same among public.

In lack of proper information about various types of concession government had been providing in health sector, he opined, many public were deprived of those services.

Khapung viewed that we should not forget the contribution of FCHVs in vaccination drive among children against various health issues such as polio and the like.

Similarly, Dev Kumari Guragain, Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, shared that a plan was in place to award a FCHV annually for her best performance beginning from next fiscal year.

According to her, the FCHVs in Nepal have done exemplary works in the world.

Likewise, Division's Director General Dr Dipendra Raman Singh said that the FCHVs have been rendering services in forefront.

According to Goma Devi Niraula, Chief of the Division, there were altogether 51,423 FCHVs across the country at present who have been working in immunization campaign, launching awareness on family planning and distribution of contraceptives among others.