Kathmandu, April 8

Baran Budamagar, 15, a spinal injury patient, of Hakam Rural Municipality, Rukum, is receiving treatment at National Trauma Centre for three months now.

He had fallen from a tree while cutting grass for his cattle.

“After the accident I have not been able to go to school and I even missed my Grade VIII examination,” he said, adding, “I can’t move my body parts below abdomen.”

As transport services are not available in the rural municipality, Baran’s father Bhayel carried him on his back for hours to a hospital in Khalanga. However, as the hospital did not provide surgical services, Baran had to be brought to Kathmandu for treatment.

Like Baran, Sukram Chepang, 16, has been sharing a bed opposite Baran’s at the trauma centre. A paralysis patient, he too received injury to his spinal cord and has been receiving treatment at the hospital.

The number of spinal injury patients has been increasing at the trauma centre as very few hospitals in the country provide treatment services for the injury. Of the 30 beds in the burn unit at the centre, five have been set aside for spinal injury patients. “While five spinal injury patients are currently admitted to the centre, there is a long list of spinal injury patients waiting to get admitted for treatment,” said Dr Peeyush Dahal, burn and plastic surgeon at the centre.

“The government has been providing Rs 100,000 to patients of spinal injury, but the amount is not enough,” he added.