BAJURA, NOVEMBER 14

Impoverished Hasta Budha sold out his oxen to treat his ill wife in Soru Rural Municipality, Mugu. After four days' walk, Budha reached Bajura, sold his oxen for Rs 15,000, and carried his wife to the Bajura District Hospital. His wife Ashadhi Budha had been suffering from toothache for the past four months.

Budha had planned to go to Nepalgunj. After he failed to get an aeroplane ticket at Kolti, Budha took his wife to Martadi. Out of Rs 15,000, Budha spent Rs 10,000 on his way to the hospital. Budha has run out of cash feeding his wife at the hospital.

After Ashadhi experienced problem with her teeth, she was admitted to the local medical centre. Her tooth was extracted, but the pain and injury deteriorated.

Budha said that he sold his oxen when it was time to cultivate the field and reached the hospital with his wife and daughter.

Dr Raj Kumar Rokaya said the digital x-ray would help diagnose the problem. Budha's three children - Gagan Budha, 10, Durga Budha, 5, and Unasha Budha, 2, are staying at home.

Budha's home is in Ner village of Soru Rural Municipality which is located in a remote part of the district.

Locals here are deprived of even basic health service.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 15, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.