BAJURA, SEPTEMBER 3

A local Dil Bahadur Rokaya, 32, of Himali Rural Municipality, Bajura, has been struggling for life due to leprosy for the last five years.

Very poor, Dil Bahadur is seeking help for treatment expenses. He has been experiencing excessive pain on his toes and hands. His fingers have started dwindling due to the disease. His relatives and others humiliate him due to the disease.

A local, Arjun Bahadur Rokaya, said it is not yet confirmed whether the disease is leprosy or cancer. He said that Dil Bahadur is waiting for death as he has no money for treatment. Dil Bahadur has been wandering in Martadi asking for help for treatment. He has been living with the disease due to lack of money.

Dil Bahadur has been deprived of a dignified life in society. He does not even get two meals a day. He said that he could not go to work due to the disease. He is a daily wage earner.

Dil Bahadur's father died after he fell from a tree while his mother died due to snake bite during his childhood. He said that he went to India, District Hospital, Bajura, and Dadeldhura, among other health facilities, but in vain. He is seeking help for his treatment in Martadi. "There is no way but to accept death," he said. "Sometimes I feel so depressed that I think of committing suicide,'' he said in tears.