Pokhara, Nov 20: U.S. Ambassador Dean Thompson on Thursday visited the pediatric ward of the Western Regional Hospital under the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences.

The ambassador’s visit was part of a monitoring trip to observe the progress, operation, and effectiveness of the neonatal health program, which the United States has been supporting continuously.

Professor Dr. Ram Chandra Bastola, head of the hospital’s pediatric department, welcomed Ambassador Thompson and guided him through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Prof. Dr. Bastola expressed gratitude for the U.S. government’s continued support and partnership in strengthening Nepal’s health sector, particularly in neonatal and child care.

“We feel greatly honored by the visit of the U.S. Ambassador to our NICU today. His presence and encouragement mean a lot to us,” Dr. Bastola said. “We sincerely appreciate the recognition of our work and the support in our mission to improve the lives of the most vulnerable.” Ambassador and his team are doing their best to help in the maternal and child health.

Ambassador Thompson praised the hospital for delivering quality services and pledged continued cooperation. He also indicated that U.S. assistance may expand into additional areas in the future.

Dr. Bastola drew the ambassador’s attention to the growing patient pressure and inadequate physical infrastructure. “Due to the quality of services, this hospital is the first choice for maternity and child healthcare. However, the number of patients is high, and space is limited,” he said.

He informed that the NICU has 15 beds, 17 beds for mothers, and 8 additional beds outside, all of which are insufficient to meet the demand.

Dr. Bastola stated that Ambassador Thompson also expressed commitment to establishing a breast milk bank at the hospital.

Meanwhile, he shared that a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has recently been established. Of the hospital’s 40 beds, 2 isolation beds and now 8 PICU beds have been added. He also noted that additional human resources are required to operate the unit effectively and requested support for the same.

The pediatric department, under Dr. Bastola’s leadership, has been widely praised by the public for providing effective and quality services.