More than 20 diarrhea patients come to the ward everyday. [break]
Doctors say the poor sanitation and drinking water quality in the capital is the main cause of diarrhea.
“The rainy season is yet to begin but the number of the patients is increasing everyday," Dr Bashudev Pandey, consultant physician and virologist at the hospital, said.
“Diarrhea, intestinal worms, gastritis and jaundice are the main problems patients face,” Chandra Serchan, nursing staff of the gastro ward said.
Water borne diseases pose serious public health problems. Contaminated water can cause cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A and many other health problems.
According to doctors, sixty per cent of water-borne diseases can be controlled if people consume clean drinking water. But 80 percent government supplied water is contaminated, a report of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) says.
NAST, an autonomous body that promotes science and technology, says a large percentage of government supplied drinking water contains fecal coli forms. Official at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) said thousands of people are be affected by the water borne disease every year.
Dr Pandey said those who consume food at unhygienic hotels, and food sold on the streets face the risk of food-and-water borne diseases. Contaminated food also causes cholera, viral gastroenteritis and typhoid. “Patients tell us that they consumed momos or some other food items sold at hotels and then developed problems,” he said.
Dr Pandey urged people to maintain healthy eating habits. “Wash your hands repeatedly before touching food and always be sure that the water you drink is safe. Don´t eat food kept in the open,” he said. The doctor also asked people to boil the water before drinking and choose food items that are safe and thoroughly cooked.
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