Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Felicity Volk, Gandaki Province Health Secretary Dr Shree Ram Tiwari and INF Nepal Chairperson Ram Chandra Timothy jointly inaugurated the Oxygen Plant at Green Pastures Hospital (GPH), Pokhara. The Australian Government, through INF Nepal, established the plant at the cost of NPR 14 million.
Addressing the inauguration, Ambassador Volk said, “The handover of the oxygen plant coincides with the celebration of 70 years of INF operations in Nepal. INF has made a significant contribution in rural communities through the provision of health care services, livelihood interventions and promoting social inclusion.”
“With COVID-19, we have seen health systems under immense strain. The establishment of this plant under the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Development Response Plan will strengthen Green Pastures Hospital’s health services and serve as a reminder of the close friendship over six decades, between Nepal and Australia.” – HE Felicity Volk
In June 2021, the Australian Government provided AUD 7 million to NGOs including INF Nepal (which received AUD 500,000), to boost Nepal’s ability to respond to COVID-19, including through the procurement of essential equipment and health supplies for hospitals and personal protective equipment for health workers.
The newly established plant will ensure a reliable and direct supply of medical oxygen in all regular and crisis situations. The dual plant design provides five cubic meters per hour of oxygen, which is directly connected to a newly constructed pipeline system that delivers oxygen to every bed, ward and operating room in the hospital. In crisis situations, oxygen output can be doubled by running both plants simultaneously.
The inauguration was attended by the Chairperson of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Ward no. 15, Toran Baniya, INF Nepal Executive Director, Krishna Adhikari and GPH Hospital Director, Dr Arun Kumar Budha.