Jun 12, Kathmandu - The construction of the Nepal-India Friendship Hospital has commenced. The hospital's foundation stone was officially laid during a special ceremony in Chankheli Rural Municipality-2, marking a milestone in providing modern health services to the region's residents to enhance healthcare accessibility in the remote Himalayan district of Humla.

Funded by the Government of India with approximately NPR 14.8 crore, this state-of-the-art hospital aims to serve the underserved communities of Humla. The project is part of India's high-impact community development initiatives, with the responsibility for implementation and management entrusted to Chankheli Rural Municipality.

Local residents expressed their happiness following the groundbreaking ceremony. During the event, the chairperson of Chankheli Rural Municipality and other stakeholders lauded India's continuous support for Nepal's development. They expressed confidence that the new hospital infrastructure would ensure easy, accessible, and reliable healthcare for the people of Chankheli and surrounding areas.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Narendra Srivastava, also extended his greetings in a video message, congratulating all project stakeholders. He reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to working together with the Nepalese government and people for shared development and prosperity.

Since the launch of Nepal's high-impact community development projects, nearly 600 initiatives have been implemented across all 7 provinces and 74 districts. The Humla hospital project is the third such high-impact project in the district.

Previously, India provided grants for building a library inside Sri Saraswati Secondary School in Sarkeghad and a laboratory and library building at Shri Mahadev Higher Secondary School in Chankheli-Darmath. Additionally, in July 2024, India organized a special study tour for a 10-member delegation representing Humla's Chankheli, Sarkeghad, and Simkot Rural Municipalities, further strengthening bilateral cooperation.