BAJURA, MAY 15

Local levels, governmental and non-governmental organisations, health workers and civil society members, among others, have jointly launched a public awareness campaign against COVID-19 considering the rapidly increasing cases of the virus in Bajura.

Authorities and other stakeholders in Bajura have been working hard to spread public awareness against COVID-19 in the remote villages of the district. The fear of COVID infection has increased among the district dwellers after the deadly virus started spreading in the villages at an alarming rate. The campaigners have been urging villagers to wash their hands with soap, maintain social distance, wear face masks and follow the basic health safety protocols to avoid contracting the coronavirus.

The campaigners are reaching out to each and every household to spread awareness against the virus.

A local, Rupa Budha, in Khaptadchhededaha Rural Municipality reached different toles to tell people about the deadly contagion and the health safety measures to be followed during the pandemic.

She also distributed face masks to villagers. Budha also taught people how to use face masks and maintain hand hygiene.

She is a staffer of a non-governmental organisation. 'It is necessary to make the people aware of this virus,' she said.

The number of people returning from India is increasing every day in Bajura. Following the same, the district is at high risk of the virus spreading.

Many COVID suspects are staying in their homes, which has increased the risk of the virus spreading in the community level. Many people in the villages prefer not to go to hospitals even after experiencing COVID symptoms due to fear of testing positive.

Chief District Officer Gopal Adhikari said that health workers, teachers, police, staffers and civil society members, among others, had been deployed to contain the virus in the district. Many teachers are also involved in spreading public awareness in the toles.

Dhan Bahadur Rawal, a teacher at Choyakot Secondary School in Badimalika Municipality said teachers had joined the public awareness drive against coronavirus after the closure of schools. He said that they taught people about health safety measures to be adopted during the pandemic and told them about the need to abide by the prohibitory order imposed in the district. The non-governmental organisations have also deployed social mobilisers for this purpose.

Meanwhile, Bajura District Police Office has requested district dwellers to abide by government orders. The office has also launched a public awareness campaign in the district.

Police and other security personnel are also playing their role in encouraging people to use face masks.

Health Coordinator Dipak Shah at Budhiganga Municipality said they had started educating people about COVID along with carrying out tests.

District Administration Office has also urged people to strictly follow government orders and pay attention to personal hygiene to reduce the risk of being infected with the virus.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 16, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.