Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee, Rajendra Pandey, handing over the key to Augustino Pienna, Italian Consular General of Kolkata, India,at the inaugral function, Saturday, Oct 23 2005. Photo courtesy : Highway Community Hospital

Nepal’s first Highway Community Hospital has come into operation at Malekhu, Dhading district, alongside the Prithivi Highway –with partnership between social organizations of Nepal and Italy.

Augustino Pienna, Italian Consular General of Kolkata, India, inaugurated the hospital amid a function on Saturday.

The hospital was established with a view to provide necessary medical services to victims of road accidents along the highway as well as to the local people.

Addressing the inaugural function, Pienna said that apart from providing medical services, the hospital will help facilitate the relations between Nepali and the Italian people.

Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee, Rajendra Pandey, pointed out that the hospital would not only benefit the locals of Malekhu and surrounding areas, its emergency services will benefit the needy people from almost all parts of the country.

A free health camp was organised on the occasion of the inauguration of the hospital.

With facilities like x-ray and gynaecology ward, the hospital has 15 beds. The construction of the hospital had begun three years ago with the total cost estimate of Rs.12.1 million, officials informed.

The concept of this hospital was brought forth by the Accident Victim Rescue Association (ACVRA). Several Italian nationals have donated through an organization called Friends of Nepal. The organization has donated an ambulance to the hospital.

President of Friends of Nepal, Nima Nuru Sherpa, conferred letters of felicitation to the donors.