By Our Correspondent
Butwal, June 24: Butwal Sub Metropolitan City has made public its policy and programme for the coming Fiscal Year giving priority to health, education, employment and environment-friendly infrastructure development.
Presenting the policy and programme, Mayor of the Butwal Sub Metropolitan City Shivaraj Subedi said that the policy has focused on prevention, management and treatment of the second and possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stating that the protection of the lives of citizens from the pandemic and other disasters is at the centre of the policy programme, Mayor Subedi said that initiatives would be taken to ensure vaccination against COVID-19 to all the city dwellers in coordination with the federal and provincial governments.
According to Mayor Subedi, children's health and education, job creation and entrepreneurship for youth, skill development and respect for senior citizens are focused in the policy document.
The policy and programme for the coming fiscal year have been prepared with focus on the city development plan according to the clear outline of the objectives, goals, strategy and tactics of the economic, social and cultural development in the sub-metropolis, he clarified.
By making the government health institution strong and well-equipped, Butwal has announced to provide subsidy in the cost of surgery for those who are unable to pay hospital charges.
The policy and programme will help in the identification and treatment of breast cancer in women, obstetrics and gynaecological examination, uterine examination and health problems in children less than 14 years of age.
The policy and programme state that the basic laboratory services will be provided free of cost to the pregnant women of the city by distributing medicines including iron and calcium for free.
To address the growing eye problem among students, the sub-metropolis has announced a free eye check-up and counselling for all community school students once a year through the policy and programme.
In addition, the sub-metropolis has taken a policy to provide subsidy for the treatment of patients with heart and kidney problems, cancer, autism, Alzheimer's, head injury, spinal injury and sickle cell anaemia.
For quality education, a new method of education will be adopted in line with the concept of ‘Single Butwal, One School' by developing technology-friendly schools.
According to the new education policy, the children of orphaned and deprived families will be given access to education like other children, the school will be made technology-friendly, and fine arts subjects and special classes will be conducted.