Kathmandu, Feb. 17 -- As many as 36 staff nurses serving in 18 federal and provincial hospitals across the country lost their jobs in three months, as funds from the USAID, which was used to hire those health workers, were suspended abruptly and indefinitely in January-end.

Those nurses were hired to promote exclusive breastfeeding practices at the hospitals, where thousands of women seek safe delivery services every year.

"It is unfortunate that we could not continue the service of those staff nurses," said Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the Family Welfare Division of the Department of Health Services. "The World Health Organisation, through the USAID budget, helped us in hiring those nurses."

Job termination of 36 staff nurses is am...