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Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava handed over the first tranche of 20 Kidney Dialysis Machines (KDMs) to Minister for Health and Population Padam Giri on Monday. These 20 KDMs are first of the 200 such machines that are being gifted by people and Government of India to people and Government of Nepal, read a statement issued by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The units include all the related equipment. The remaining consignment will be delivered in the near future. On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava said that the long-standing development cooperation between India and Nepal, especially in the health sector, added that the gifting of these machines reflected the continued support of India as Nepal augments its health infrastructure. Minister Giri thanked the Government of India (GoI) for its continued developmental support in the Health sector, including for the Kidney Dialysis Machines, for boosting the medical facilities for the people of Nepal, the statement read. Cooperation in the Health sector is a significant aspect of India-Nepal development partnership. Major health facilities constructed under GoI grant assistance include Nepal Bharat Maitri Emergency & Trauma Centre in Kathmandu, BP Koirala Institute of Health Science in Dharan and OPD complex for Bir Hospital in Kathmandu, apart from nearly 50 health-related High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) undertaken in various districts of Nepal, the statement further read. GoI is also providing post-Earthquake Reconstruction grant assistance of USD 50 million for the construction of 132 health posts in various earthquake-affected districts of Nepal. During COVID, apart from providing vaccines under bilateral grant (over 2 million doses) and through COVAX, GoI supported Nepal in enhancing physical capacity of health institutions and supplied medical equipment like ICU beds and medical Oxygen plants, essential medicines, RT-PCR test kits PPE, Ventilators etc. GoI also provides Ambulances every year to various health institutions of Nepal. Till date, 940 ambulances have been distributed covering almost all districts of Nepal. As close neighbors, India and Nepal share wide-ranging & multi-sectoral cooperation. The gifting of these KDMs reflects the continued support of the Government of India in bolstering the Government of Nepal’s efforts to build healthy Nepal.  

The Election Commission has established an office of the Election Officer for the elections of President and Vice-President. Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya inaugurated the office established in Parliament building New Baneshwor. CEC Thapaliya said that the voting will be held from 10 am to 3 pm on March 9 and the result will be made public within 7 pm the same day. The Election Commission has set up two polling stations—one for the Parliament members and another for the Province Assembly members. Thapaliya said that the process will begin with the publication of the voter list for the presidential election on February 10. He said that the election will be held on March 10 if none of the candidates secure a majority. The Election Commission has set the date of February 25 for candidate registration, February 28 to publish the final list of the candidates and March 9 for the voting. Similarly, the process of vice-presidential election will start on March 11.  

Former Health Minister Prof Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha passed away on Monday. He was 88. Shrestha, who had long been suffering from respiratory and heart related problems, breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Maitighar-based Annapurna Hospital this morning, his son Dr Jaya Shrestha said. He was a veteran human rights activist. Shrestha became the Health Minister from the civil society in the government formed after the restoration of democracy. He is survived by six sons and one daughter. His last rights will be performed at the Pashupati Aryaghat on Tuesday.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli reiterated that the candidate fielded by the UML would be the next President. Talking to mediapersons at the Biratnagar Airport on Sunday, the former Prime Minister expressed the hope that there would be a consensus to make the presidential candidate fielded by the UML victorious. Stating that the UML would make public the party's presidential candidate on the day of the nomination registration, he said, "The present alliance will continue as it was formed in understanding and with much thought." He said that they also have the support of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to make UML's presidential candidate victorious. In another context, he said there was no need to be worried about the republic. On former King Gyanendra Shah's statement that he was ready to cooperate with political parties, he said, "Former King Gyanendra Shah is in dilemma."