Rajbiraj, December 16

Snake-bite patients have been deprived of effective service owing to lack of necessary equipment in the snake-bite treatment centre at Khadak Municipality in Saptari. It is an arduous task to treat patients due to lack of monitoring machine at the centre.

A technician at the centre Chandra Bahadur Kathayat said the machine was needed to measure heart palpitation and pulse rate, among other vitals. “We have been treating patients on the basis of assumption due to lack of necessary equipment,” he added. Kathayat said serious patients were referred to another health facility due to lack of equipment. The technician said it would be easy to provide better service to patients if the necessary equipment was managed.

Nepali Army Bhim Dal Battalion at Rajbiraj had operated the snake-bite treatment centre from July 2. Management Committee Coordinator Usman Miya said the treatment centre had been brought into operation after Khadak Municipality provided Rs 300,000 for the same.

Miya said the problems occurred after the municipality stopped providing budget. He added that it was very difficult to provide service to patients as the building was in dilapidated state.

According to the centre, as many as 214 patients have received the service till date.

Snake-bite patients from Khadak Municipality, Bodebarsain Municipality, Rupani Rural Municipality, Shambhunath Municipality, Dakneshwori Municipality, Balan Bihul Rural Municipality, Surunga Municipality and patients from the border areas reach the service centre for treatment.