3 weeks into deadly flu, docs flown to Jajarkot

JAJARKOT, April 21: Doctors have finally rushed to the affected villages of Jajarkot district three weeks into the deadly flu outbreak that has already claimed 24 lives and infected over 10,000 locals.

The authorities have responded to contain the crisis only after much hue and cry by various stakeholders, including media.

Earlier, doctors and health workers who visited the affected areas had not stayed for more than two days, according to locals. Stakeholders including the locals have also been complaining about the insufficient number of health workers in the affected areas since half a month.

Over two dozens doctors from the Nepal Army (NA), the Armed Police Force (APF), the Health Ministry and neighboring districts reached the affected villages on Sunday and Monday, according to Chief District Officer (CDO) Jagat Bahadur Basnet.

Assistant nurse midwife Harikala Shahi shows a cupboard empty of medicines at the health post at Archhani VDC of Jajarkot on Friday. Janak KC/Republica

A team of six health workers led by Dr Rajeev Mahaseth from NA has been deployed to Archhani VDC, another team of six doctors led by Dr Krishna Gopal Maharjan from the National Health Workers' Association (NHWA) has deplolyed to Talegaun VDC and team led by Dr Shaubhagya Dhakal from APF to Kortang VDC, CDO Basnet informed.

He added that five doctors led by Dr Kalpana Sapkota has been sent to Pajaru VDC, a 10-member team led by Dr Kamaj Raj Thapa to Dasera, a team led by Dr Achyut Aryal to Limsa and another team led by Dr Gyanendra Nepali to Nayakwada.

The doctors from NA, APF and NHWA flew in by helicopter on Monday while other teams had reached the sites Sunday.

Dr Anil Dangol of NA and Dr Gunanidhi Lohani of the Health Ministry have been staying at Jajarkot district headquarters to mobilize the health workers and doctors and provide necessary instructions and guidance to teams in the field, according to District Health Office (DHO), Jajarkot.

Apart from the deployment of doctors, the DHO has set up help desks in different parts of the district, including Chhedrachaur, Thalah Bazaar and Khalanga to examine locals for the flu.

Medicines worth over a million rupees have been received at the DHO from the Health Ministry, Surkhet-based Mid-Western Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Medical Store Nepalgunj, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) at Teku in the capital, the WHO Country Office, NA and Chaurajhari Mission Hospital. The DHO has already delivered the medicines to the affected villages, according DHO Chief Dhiraj Jung Shah.

To date, doctors from NA, Chaurjahari Mission Hospital, the DHO and the Health Ministry have already treated more than 3,200 patients.

The seasonal flu that has infected thousands in 30 wards spread over more than a dozen VDCs, is yet to come under control. Severe headache, coughing, nausea with vomiting, and fever are among the symptoms of the disease.

Out of the total death toll of 24 so far, nine are from Painka, six from Talegaun, three from Achharni, two from Pajaru, and one each from Nayakwada, Dasera, Majkot and Garkhakot.