Nepal's bordering towns witness sharp rise in Kala-azar patients

Nepali southern Terai plains are witnessing a sharp rise in the number of Kala-azar patients with the surge in temperature lately, reported the website thehimalayantimes.com Monday.

Health workers at the government owned hospitals in Mahottari District, some 130km south of Kathmandu, are facing difficulties to perform duties as they had to accommodate the growing numbers of patients at the lobbies and verandahs of the hospital due to lack of beds.

On Sunday, some 27 patients were admitted at the hospital situated at Jaleshwor, the district headquarters. The majority of the patients arriving for treatment at the hospital are reportedly from the bordering towns of India.

According to hospital sources, Indians visit hospitals in Nepal as they are required to buy medicines back in India.

Most of the patients suffering from Kala-azar are children who are prone to this disease as they have less immune power, said Dr. Dwarika Prasad Shah, the only physician in the district hospital.

Dr. Shah urged the local volunteer groups to assist the hospital in spreading awareness on disease among locals as it would be difficult for the hospital with only 25 beds to take in more patients.

Meanwhile, in Morang, another bordering town with India situated some 240km southeast of Kathmandu, the students of medical hospital diagnosed some 10 persons suffering from Kala- azar in single village during their survey.

The survey also revealed that at least four persons died of Kala-azar within past one year at the most affected village of the district. The Morang District Public Health Office said it has started spraying pesticide in 25 villages to control sandfly.

Source: Xinhua