BAJURA, MARCH 28

An 18-month-old girl from Paima, Triveni Municipality-9 is suffering from malnutrition and has been left in a lurch for want of money.

Sumitra Nepali is suffering from malnutrition for the past three months now.

According to social worker Mangal Bahadur Baniya, Nepali's family is unable to treat their child owing to a lack of finances.

Sumitra's mother Bhuja Nepali shared her grievances that her daughter has been deprived of a proper diagnosis of issues corresponding to her health. The toddler's father Dharma Nepali died in New Delhi a year ago. Though he was reported to have been killed by his kin, the death remains a mystery. After her husband's demise, Bhuja had returned home with her two daughters.

Sumitra Nepali is pictured with her mother Bhuja Nepali in Tribeni Municipality-9, Bajura district. Photo: Prakash singh/THT
Sumitra Nepali is pictured with her mother Bhuja Nepali in Tribeni Municipality-9, Bajura district. Photo: Prakash singh/THT

"Sumitra was fine till the time she came home from India. Later, owing to malnourishment, she started to lose weight and was taken to Badimalika based Urban Health Centre" informed Bhuja. The child was also rushed to Bayalpata Hospital in Achham district.

According to health workers, Sumitra weighs only 4.5 kilograms whereas she should be at least 10 kilograms at her current age.

AHW Sita Khatri said that the urban centre had asked Bhuja to take the child to a health post. Bhuja, however, could not take the child to the District Hospital and other health centres for treatment, said AHW Khatri.

"On January 21, my daughter was referred to another hospital by Dr Rupchandra Bishwakarma, Chief of the District Hospital" said Bhuja, who is left in the lurch for want of treatment in absence of adequate financial resources.

"I visited the municipality office twice for help, but to no avail. My pleas to the people's representatives went unheeded," bemoaned Bhuja.

Triveni Municipality acting Chief Administrative Officer Chiranjivi Shahi, and other concerned authorities, however, said they were not aware of Bhuja making such an appeal.

Bhuja Nepali of Tribeni Municipality-9, Bajura district. Photo: Prakash singh/THT
Bhuja Nepali of Tribeni Municipality-9, Bajura district. Photo: Prakash singh/THT

Similarly, many other villages in the district are also witnessing cases of malnutrition wherein the majority of the children in a Dalit settlement are undernourished.