Celebrating the 40th Birthday of His Majesty The King, Tsirang District planted 108 different fruit saplings yesterday. Tsirang District Hospital initiated the plantations and the Renewable Natural Resources centre in Wangdue Phodrang and Tsirang provided the technical support.
The fruit saplings include loquat, avocado, peach, pears, plum and persimmon. Sonam Peldon, the Dy. Chief Program Officer at the Health Ministry sponsored the saplings. Her first posting was in Tsirang Hospital where she served as a GNM.
The Tsirang Dzongda, Pema, applauded the initiative and thanked the health workers for working tirelessly towards saving the lives of the people.
“Planting fruit trees is very applicable for health workers because health workers save lives. Like human beings, trees also have life. So you people are saving trees through the plantation. So, I think you people made the right choice,” said Pema, the Tsirang Dzongda.
Once the saplings start fruiting, the hospital will provide fruits to its patients. Like any other hospitals in the country, Tsirang hospital has been buying fruits from the market for the patients.
“First of all, we will be providing fruits to our patients as supplementary diets. And in case, if we have bountiful produce, we will be selling it in the market. The amount that we generate from the sale will be used for the patient welfare scheme,” shared Kinley, the Sr. District Health Officer at Tsirang.
For now, most health officials who planted the fruit saplings will have to nurture their saplings until the trees start fruiting. Officials are expecting fruits from peach and plum within a few years through the grafting.
Pema Tshewang
