Pashupatinagar, Nov. 26:The government of Japan handed over the newly constructed Maternity and Children’s Clinic to Suryodaya Municipality of Ilam district on Friday.

The government of Japan had provided USD 84,277 (approx. Rs. 9.2 million) for the clinic’s construction under Japan’s grant assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). According to the municipality, the clinic was constructed in Gogane, a village inhabited by Lapcha community, with the support of the municipality and locals as well.

“The municipality contributed Rs. 6.4 million and locals provided Rs. 428,000 alongside voluntary labour worth Rs. 788,000 for the construction. Rs. 394,000 was also provided from local sources,” said Engineer Kabin Sapkota of the municipality.

The Japanese side has also assisted in the maternity and paediatric clinic’s medical equipment.  

The clinic was handed over to Suryodaya’s Mayor Ran Bahadur Rai by Kikuta Yutaka, Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, after inaugurating it.

Ambassador Kikuta and Mayor Rai echoed that the clinic will be helpful for the women and children of the rural areas of Fikkal and its neighbouring areas in Suryodaya Municipality.

As per the Japanese Embassy in Nepal, the clinic has been in operation since March this year under the management of the municipality.