"My stomach pains regularly. Legs and hands swell. Nerves pain equally. Vision is also weak," said Maitkashi Ghale, 67, of Dhadehi village when asked about his wellbeing. She did not have sound health even before earthquake. However, she claims that her ailments compounded in the aftermath of earthquake as she lost her house to the disaster and has been forced to live in tent since then. The hot during the summer and chilling winter cold of the tent has resulted in swelling her limbs and have further aggravated nerve problems, she said.
Another earthquake victim Chandra Kumari Ghale, 65, also complained of having troubles with mouth ulcer. And Narbir Ghale, 84, denied counting ailments he was suffering of stating that there is no doctor who can get rid of his ailments.
A recent health camp in the area figured out that the quake victims were suffering from multiple diseases. Rajesh Yadav, Deputy Director of Bharatpur College of Medical Science, organizer of the event, said that unhealthy lifestyle of the victims since the earthquake has taken serious toll on their health. The medical college had given the service in coordination with Pashupati Prasad Battalion of Nepal Army.
Yadav stated that there is no way for the patients to get to hospitals in town or cities and many are forced to live on with their health deteriorating day by day. "Due to financial problem, they are not able to reach to headquarters Beshishahar or the capital or Pokhara and Bharatpr for treatment. That's forcing them to live with several diseases," he said. He further said that the lack of awareness is the other reason behind poor health of the people.
Maitkashi, Narbir and Chadra Kumari, among hundreds of others had attended the health camp after they came to know it was for free. Even though they got medical attention and medicines during the camp, that was not enough to really make difference on their health, they say.
According to Kalbahadur Kami, his eight years old grandson Bikash who has constipation problem was taken to the camp. "However, he has not fully been normal," he said, adding that he cannot take the child to big hospitals in cities as he has no money for all that. Kami, 70, further added that he also has developed some ailments in his stomach. "I cannot move around properly, I feel very weak," he said.
The quake victims in the remote villages of Harigaun, Saranchowk, Kalche, Bansar, Tapgaun and Hile among other areas are also affected by poor shelter, food and sanitation facilities. Though the villages are around four hours of ride from the headquarters Beshishahar, the victims have been deprived of health check-up, Yadav said. "This is why, even their minor health problem has developed into severe ones," he opined.
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