Health post at high risk of flood, landslide

Bajura, July 16

Health workers in Kolti Primary Health Post have been treating patients despite the health facility being at a high risk of floods and landslides with the onset of monsoon.

The buildings and other infrastructures of the health facility were badly damaged and covered with mud due to floods and landslides around two years ago.

The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and locals had cleared the debris from landslides in three buildings of the health centre to resume health services.

District Health Office Chief Dr Mohan Nath said the risks weren’t so high in winter.

“But health workers treat patients with the fear of floods and landslides in monsoon,” he added.

Auxiliary mid-wife at the health post Deuma Dhami said that the admitted patients were sent to nearby hotels and lodges at evenings due to the fear of landslides.

“We treat the patients in the health center at day time when the risks are lower, but we keep them in hotels at night,” she informed.

A newly admitted patient Mamata Budha of Sappata VDC, Bajura said that she was sent to a nearby hotel owing to possible risks of flood for the last three days.

She said doctors have advised her to stay in the health facility for two to three days.

“I have been staying in a hotel as the health center is at a high risk of landslides and floods,” she informed.

Even the health post has booked a room in a hotel to keep equipment, medicines and other medical supplies. Health workers said that many patients were compelled to stay in the health facility because all rooms in the hotels have been booked even in bazaar area.

Hundreds of patients from 11 VDCs from northern Bajura, and neighbouring districts such as Mugu and Humla visit Kolti Primary Health Center for treatment daily.

The facility is also badly hit by drinking water crisis after floods and landslides swept away water resources two years ago.

Health Center Management Committee Chairman and VDC secretary Ramadatta Neupane said that no initiatives have yet been taken by the concerned authority for the construction of safer infrastructures, although the then home minister Bam Dev Gautam and Industry Minister Karna Bahadur Thapa had assured them of the same.