KATHMANDU: Australian ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk handed over medical equipment worth around Rs 41 lakhs to the Prof Dr Dibya Singh Shah, Dean of Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) and Dr Samarika Dahal at the Forensic Department of TUTH on Tuesday.
The equipment – an ultrasound machine and a portable dental x-ray machine – were funded under the Australia Awards Alumni Grants Program to support the work of two Australian university alumni – Professor Dr. Shah and Dr. Dahal.
Dr Shah is also the personal physician of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
According to the embassy, the x-ray machine will be used in forensic odontology services in Nepal and will expand the disaster victim identification services provided by the Forensic Department at TUTH.
“Dr. Dahal is pioneer in the field of forensic odontology and received the alumni grant in recognition of her strong commitment to advocacy for improved health services in Nepal and for her active engagement in the Australia Awards Women in Leadership Network (WIL) in Nepal,” states the media release issued here on Tuesday.
The ultrasound machine is being provided as an alumni grant to Professor Dr. Shah, Dean of IOM, in recognition of her leadership in the field of nephrology and transplant services in Nepal.
“The Australian Government is committed to supporting health security under our Nepal COVID-19 Development Response Plan. The plan focuses on assistance for the most vulnerable and, as Nepal manages multiple challenges simultaneously, the needs of vulnerable communities are more evident than ever,”Ambassador Volk said while handing over the equipment.
“In recent months, we have seen health systems under immense strain; I can only imagine how difficult and stressful it must be for Nepal’s health professionals,” the ambassador said. “I hope that the contribution of equipment under the Australia Awards Alumni grant program will provide support to Nepal’s health system and be a reminder of a friendship where Nepal and Australia have supported each other across many decades.”
