Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital has launched a simulation lab. Hospital Director Dr. Shriprasad Adhikari established the lab to produce skilled manpower for treating and caring for mothers and newborns.
The lab has been set up at the hospital’s building in Kupandol and was inaugurated on Monday by Pradeep Paudel, the Minister of Health and Population.
According to Director Dr. Adhikari, the lab will train nursing staff, ANMs, midwives, and doctors. It will also allow the practice of treatment procedures without affecting real patients. The American charity organization One Heart Worldwide provided financial support to establish the lab through the U.S. donor agency USAID.
Dr. Adhikari stated that the lab will provide quality training to all maternal and neonatal care personnel.
During the inauguration, Minister Paudel expressed his belief that the lab would play an important role in producing capable manpower to protect the lives of mothers and infants.
“This might not look like a big step,” said Minister Paudel, “but it marks the first major beginning in safeguarding mothers and infants.”
Minister Paudel said the hospital has been contributing to developing skilled professionals in maternal and neonatal care, similar to an academic institution. He added that such centers would be developed in all seven provinces.
“We will now move forward with specialized maternal and neonatal treatment and manpower development programs in the remaining six provinces as well,” he stated.
Minister Paudel also announced that additional investment will be allocated in the upcoming maternal and neonatal care budget.
Established in 2016 BS, the hospital currently operates with a capacity of around five hundred beds. Since assuming office, Minister Paudel has introduced specialized services from the new hospital building, including infertility treatment, family planning, and safe abortion services, as informed by Director Adhikari.
He also shared that gynecology services from the old building will soon be shifted to the new facility.
Minister Paudel inaugurated the expanded birthing unit in the hospital’s old building. Previously limited to eight patients, the service has now been extended to accommodate four additional patients. According to Director Adhikari, two more midwifery officers have been appointed, bringing the unit's total capacity to twelve.
