KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 6
Continuing its humanitarian activities, the 7 Summits Foundation has conducted an initial Helicobacter pylori screening campaign at Tapting village in Solukhumbu.
On the sidelines of the formal opening of Buddha View Park in the village, the foundation launched a health initiative to assess H. pylori infection in the local community, understand potential public health concerns, and raise awareness as a starting point for a broader nationwide testing and prevention campaign, said 7SF President AC Sherpa.
Dr. Arun Thapa, a senior physician who carried out H. pylori testing, said that H. pylori infection is becoming a major public health concern in Nepal. According to him, a total of 95 people participated in the initial screening. The results showed that 33 people (34.7%) tested positive and 62 (65.3%) tested negative. "21 of 59 female participants and 12 of 36 male participants tested positive."
In other words, approximately one in every three people tested in this initial community screening had an H. pylori infection, Thapa said. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that infects the stomach and can remain in the body for years without noticeable symptoms.
If left untreated, it can cause chronic gastritis (stomach inflammation), peptic ulcers and other digestive complications, and an increased long-term risk of developing stomach cancer. H. pylori is a recognized major risk factor for stomach cancer. However, not everyone infected develops ulcers or cancer. Early diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment can significantly reduce the risk of serious complications. This is not simply an individual health concern; it is an important public health issue that deserves nationwide attention.
"Although this small sample does not represent the infection rate of the entire Nepali population, the findings highlight the importance of expanding research, testing, and public awareness throughout Nepal," said Sherpa.
The government should launch a nationwide H. pylori public awareness and prevention campaign and provide free H. pylori testing for Nepali citizens, particularly in rural, remote, and underserved communities, Sherpa said, adding that free or affordable treatment and appropriate medical follow-up for people who test positive are equally necessary.
Sherpa said that educating communities about H. pylori infection, stomach ulcers, and the infection's association with increased stomach cancer risk can help establish a coordinated national strategy for screening, research, prevention, and treatment to reduce the long-term burden of stomach cancer in Nepal.
At Tapting, Tej Rai contributed 150 H. pylori testing kits, helping support this important community health initiative, Sherpa said, adding that the initial screening in Tapting is only the beginning. "Our goal is to raise nationwide awareness and encourage a broader public health initiative so that every Nepali community has access to H. pylori testing, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment," he said.