KATHMANDU: Informal Sector Service Centre today reported that the total deaths due to diarrhoeal outbreak in mid and far-western regions had reached 394 from May 30 to August 15. Out of the total deaths, 190 are male while 204 female.

According to statistics published by the INSEC in the capital, an average of three person had died of diarrhoea or cholera each day in the epidemic hit districts. The report said that the disease had turned into an epidemic in Jajarkot, Rukum, Surkhet, Kalikot, Salyan, Dailekh, Rolpa, Dolpa and Dang of the mid-western region and Doti, Bajura, Accham, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur and Bajhang districts of the far-western region The report also stated that the situation was in an emergency phase according to the World Health Organisation standards.

“Though Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal during his visit to Jajarkot on July 19 pledged that everything would be done to bring the epidemic under control, the situation has not come under control due to the lack of coordination between health teams,” read the report. Quoting the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, it mentioned that out of 20 samples collected, 8 samples tested positive for Vibrio Cholera 2.

According to information gathered from the Regional Health Directorate, the report informed that there were only 33 doctors out of the 101 doctors assigned for hospitals in Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum, Salyan, Rolpa, Surkhet, Dang and Dolpa districts of mid-western region.

It stated that Jajarkot district currently had only one doctor out of the four posts. Similarly, of the 70 posts of doctors in hospitals of the far-western region, only 39 doctors were present currently.