A sickle cell testing machine has been handed over to Provincial Hospital Surkhet. Mohanmaya Dhakal, head of Birendranagar municipality, handed over the machine to the hospital on Thursday.

Sickle cell anemia, a disease related to anemia that is more common in the Tharu community, has been started with the installation of a sickle cell anemia test machine at the provincial hospital. The need to seek treatment for anemia is over. The municipality has provided a machine worth more than 18 lakhs.

Mayor Dhakal said that they have proceeded according to the annual policy taken by the municipality to promote and protect the health of the tribal Tharu community of Birendranagar valley. She informed that the machine has been provided in coordination with the hospital in order to end the need to go elsewhere for the diagnosis of the disease in time. 

Mayor Dhakal also said that free sickle cell screening and treatment campaign will be started at the community level annually in coordination with the provincial hospital.  Dr. Keshar Dhakal, director of

hospital, said that the efforts of the municipality will end the situation of having to die due to sickle cell. Stating that the hospital is committed to providing quality healthcare services to the citizens of Karnali, Director Dhakal said that they will proceed in coordination with the municipality in the coming days. According to him, thalassemia disease can also be tested with the machine installed in the provincial hospital.