Jajarkot, August 19
Health services in Jajarkot have been affected as the number of patients continues to rise while the district hospital has been operating without sufficient doctors for an extended period.
The shortage has become a major concern as people displaced by floods and landslides have started reporting health problems, increasing pressure on the already understaffed hospital.
A request has been made to Chief Minister Mangal Bahadur Shahi to immediately arrange doctors for Jajarkot Hospital.
Dharmashila Basnet, a member of the task force and former chairperson of the hospital management committee, said the chief minister had been urged to send doctors to the hospital without delay.
The 50-bed district hospital has been facing difficulties providing daily services due to the lack of doctors.
Sunil Pun, chief of the Health Service Office, Jajarkot, said the shortage of doctors has severely affected service delivery.
Chief Minister Shahi, meanwhile, said he was serious about arranging doctors for the hospital.
The number of patients seeking treatment has increased in recent days, particularly following floods and landslides that have injured and displaced local residents.
Health workers said patients suffering from fever, common cold, injuries and other health problems have been arriving at the hospital in increasing numbers, but the shortage of medical personnel has made it difficult to provide effective treatment.
The lack of doctors has affected emergency and regular check-ups, specialist services and overall patient care. Patients have also complained of having to wait for long periods even for basic treatment.
The shortage has created additional difficulties for residents from remote settlements who travel to the district hospital for treatment.
Health workers have urged the authorities to immediately deploy additional doctors and health workers, warning that the number of patients could rise further during disasters.
They said failure to increase medical staff could make it difficult to provide timely and quality healthcare to people affected by floods and landslides.
Local residents have also called on the provincial and federal governments to ensure doctors are available according to the hospital’s sanctioned positions and to provide regular specialist services.
They have urged authorities to deploy additional doctors on a temporary basis if necessary, given the increased pressure on healthcare services during the disaster.
Fever, cold symptoms reported among displaced people
Health problems have also been reported among people displaced by floods and landslides and currently staying in temporary shelters.
Displaced residents from Bheri Municipality-2 and -3, who have been taking shelter in schools, have reported symptoms including fever and common cold.
Doctors said such symptoms were identified among 691 people during health assessments.
Chief District Officer Khadananda Adhikari said health problems had started emerging among people staying in temporary shelters.
On Monday, a team of doctors and health workers deployed by Bheri Municipality and Karnali Provincial Hospital, Surkhet, examined and treated 90 displaced people staying in shelters.
The health section of Bheri Municipality said symptoms of fever and common cold had become increasingly common among displaced people in recent days.
The municipality has also identified safe drinking water as a major challenge, with many local water sources contaminated following the disaster.
At least four people have died and 10 others have been injured in landslides that struck settlements in wards 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Bheri Municipality.
Hundreds of residents have been displaced and are currently taking shelter in schools and other safer locations.
Health officials have warned of an increased risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, particularly because elderly people, children, pregnant women and new mothers are among those staying in the shelters.
Bheri Municipality has established health desks at shelters hosting displaced residents and is providing regular health check-ups and treatment services.
