By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 7: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has honoured 15 women doctors for their outstanding contribution to the field of medical education and healthcare in Nepal.
Amidst a function organised by the Nepal Medical Association at the President’s office on Friday, President Bhandari honoured Professor Dr. Divyashree Malla, Professor Dr. Reeta Thapa, Professor Dr. Saraswoti Padhya, Professor Dr. Sudha Sharma, Dr. Kusum Thapa, Professor Dr. Kiran Regmi, Dr. Asha Singh, Professor Dr. Sangeeta Bhandari, Professor Dr. Divya Singh Shah, Professor Dr. Chandra Karki Bhandari, Professor Dr. Sanu Maiya Dali, Professor Dr. Sudha Agrawal, Professor Dr. Achala Baidya, Professor Dr. Tara Manandhar and retired Brigadier General Dr. Radha Shah.
Addressing the programme, the President mentioned that healthcare had been recognised as a fundamental right of the citizens by the Constitution of Nepal. She also stressed the need to make medical education accessible to the general public, make the medical professional dignified and develop the infrastructure of health institutions.
She also noted the significant presence of women in the frontlines of Nepal’s fight against COVID-19. “I would like to express my respect to all the female doctors, nurses, health professionals, security personnel and sanitation workers who are fighting against the coronavirus without regard for their personal or family priorities,” she said.
President Bhandari also paid tribute to everyone who lost their lives to the virus while trying to keep the public and the country safe from it. She also emphasised the need to make vaccines available to all citizens to return to normalcy.