Responding to a public interest litigation filed by Advocate Bhuwan Prasad Niraula on behalf of Consumers' Right Protection Forum-Nepal on Sunday, a single bench of Justice Govind Kumar Upadhyaya directed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as well as the Ministry of Health and Population to make necessary arrangements to control the deadly epidemic.
The apex court has also ordered the government to review all the measures taken so far to control the epidemic and provide it with a report on the developments.
The bench has also ordered the government to provide proper reparation to the family members and dependents of the people who lost their lives to the epidemic.
Advocate Niraula had filed the petition demanding an order from the court to make necessary arrangements within 24 hours to bring the epidemic under control.
He had argued that the government has not been doing enough even though the disease has already affected a large number of people.
The petitioner has also sought a mandamus order guaranteeing availability of skilled health practitioners and medicines permanently in the district. In addition, the petitioner has asked the court to pass an order that would push the responsible agencies to create a draft law to address the health issues of remote areas like Jajarkot.
The petitioner has named Ministry of Health and Population, Minister for Health and Population Khagaraj Adhikari, Health Service Department, Regional Health Directorate, Surkhet, District Health Office, Jajarkot, Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Legislative Parliament and National Human Rights Commission as defendants.
NHRC concerned
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has drawn the attention of the government that the attempts to control deadly epidemic in Jajarkot have not been effective in lack of coordination between the government agencies.
The NHRC has discussed the issue with the officials of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Nepal Medical Association and Nepal Nursing Association on Tuesday.
The NHRC has urged the government officials to take necessary measures to prevent the epidemic from propagating to the adjoining villages and districts. Likewise, the commission has urged the government to arrange adequate and proper resources in controlling the epidemic.
During the discussion, Nepal Medical Association and Nepal Nursing Association vowed to provide volunteers to support government in controlling the epidemic. The death toll from the epidemic has reached 26 in Jajarkot.
Likewise, Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have urged the government to send health practitioners and medicines to Jajarkot to control the epidemic.
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