There are so many infectious and communicable diseases taking lives of many people, especially in the rural areas.

The government’s effort to control these diseases is still not adequate. It needs an effective campaign to raise the awareness level of the rural population.

This should be followed by appropriate medication. Most of the population has access to the local health delivery system of the government.

However, the concerned authorities do not seem so much concerned about taking appropriate measures to control these diseases. Also, there are a number of I/NGOs working in health sector.

Their contributions towards the improvement of health condition of the rural people should be applauded. It was encouraging to read the news story “Mass drug administration drive to begin” (THT, March 14. Page 1).

It is said that the population of 30 districts will benefit out of this campaign which has been scheduled to take place from March 18 to 20 with the aim of preventing filaria in the country.

Filaria is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms of the filarioidea. The disease spreads from person to person through mosquito bites. When a mosquito bites a person who has filariasis microscopic worms circulating in the person’s blood enter and infect the mosquito.

Ultimately, this infected mosquito bites spreads this disease. Drugs against this disease will be administered to about 10.8 million people.

It is said that infants less than two years, pregnant women, new mothers and epileptic patients will not be administered the drug. For this, the government is mobilizing thousands of health volunteers and health personnel.

WHO has targeted prevention of filaria by the year 2020. Nepal has been able to root out this disease from 31 districts where a massive campaign had been organized since 2003.

According to Dr. Bhim Acharya, Nepal will achieve this target within the next year.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Unjustified

Apropos of the editorial “Immature act” (THT, March 20, Page 8), the EC has clearly overstepped its jurisdiction in removing RPP’s core agenda.

The EC should concern itself in holding elections effectively and peacefully. It can check on the eligibility of parties to fight the election based on requirements other than party agendas and manifestos.

Hence, the EC would take full responsibility if the upcoming elections are aborted because of its unjustified regressive action.

Forget about reviving Hindu state or monarchy, if a party wants to fight elections based on hardline ideals, it is not within the jurisdiction of the EC to disqualify them.

Nepal probably has not outlawed such ideals. What is even more surprising is that the EC action comes the wake of young Yogi’s rise in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh bordering Nepal.

Could the EC action be in any way connected to what happened in UP, India?

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu