Originally a resident of Talabang-33 of Rolpa district, Parshu Ram, who looks a little older than his actual age, has spent three years on the hospital premises. He sleeps inside the hospital compound in the night.[break]
Parshu Ram came to Kathmandu seeking treatment of his lymphatic leg. He soon realized that a lymphatic leg can not be treated in Nepal. Someone told him that he can receive treatment in India if he can manage IRs 500,000.
Parshu Ram has so far collected Rs 100,000 by begging on the streets. "I want to get rid of my lymphatic leg," he says. "I want to go home by curing my disease." However, he does not know that a lymphatic leg can not be treated anywhere in the world.
Ten years ago, a tiny lump developed on Parshu Ram´s s left thigh. The lump gradually grew in size, rendering him virtually paralyzed. He now can not walk easily.
Doctors say Parshu Ram´s lymphatic leg has posed a threat of transmitting elephantiasis to others. “If a female mosquito bites others after biting him, they may also get infected,” says Dr Bharat Thapa. "Elephantiasis can be prevented beforehand but can not be cured once infected."
According to World Health Organization (WHO), people in 83 countries have been infected with elephantiasis. Reports suggest that elephantiasis is prevalent in 60 districts of Nepal. Recently, the government launched a campaign to vaccinate 14.5 million people against elephantiasis.
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