CHITRANGA THAPA
MAHENDRANAGAR, Aug 15 - Swine flu has emerged as a major threat across the border, but the bordering district of Kanchanpur in Nepal has not woken up to the threat. A tape recorder is the only means available here to raise awareness on the fatal disease. Twice a day, the recorder blares out swine flu-related information to hundreds of travellers, who enter and exit daily through the Gaddachauki border point, the main Nepal-India border point in the Far West. 
The country has so far come across 20 confirmed swine flu cases. The fact that all cases originated abroad means a strict swine flu control mechanism is a must to tackle the threat along the border and shield the population. Things are different on the other side of this bordering district. Indian authorities have declared the bordering Indian territory a swine flu-prone zone. District Public Health Office (DPHO) officials concede serious efforts to take on the public health threat are lacking. "The tape is played twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening," according to Shiva Dutt Bhatta of the DPHO. Bhatta says his office plans to set up a health desk at Gaddachauki to inspect suspects. "We have asked the health department to provide 1000 sets of masks and 500 Tamiflu tablets for the desk. The department has not sent any," says Bhatta. "Without masks and medicines, what's the use of setting up a health desk?" The Mahakali Zonal Hospital has set up a quarantine ward for swine flu patients and hospital officials plan to quarantine patients based on symptoms. "Swine flu, a global threat, is treated as a non-issue here," says Dr. Sudip Khanal.
The country has so far come across 20 confirmed swine flu cases. The fact that all cases originated abroad means a strict swine flu control mechanism is a must to tackle the threat along the border and shield the population. Things are different on the other side of this bordering district. Indian authorities have declared the bordering Indian territory a swine flu-prone zone. District Public Health Office (DPHO) officials concede serious efforts to take on the public health threat are lacking. "The tape is played twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening," according to Shiva Dutt Bhatta of the DPHO. Bhatta says his office plans to set up a health desk at Gaddachauki to inspect suspects. "We have asked the health department to provide 1000 sets of masks and 500 Tamiflu tablets for the desk. The department has not sent any," says Bhatta. "Without masks and medicines, what's the use of setting up a health desk?" The Mahakali Zonal Hospital has set up a quarantine ward for swine flu patients and hospital officials plan to quarantine patients based on symptoms. "Swine flu, a global threat, is treated as a non-issue here," says Dr. Sudip Khanal. He feels the need to train health workers to make them ready to treat swine flu cases.
Let's hope the authorities are listening and take action to combat swine flu before it's too late.Posted on: 2009-08-15 10:39:49
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