Of those who died in Baitadi, three were residents of Sigas VDC, while the others were residents of Gajari, Thalakada and Shiling VDCs. On Monday, Sunita Saud, daughter of Ganesh Saud, of Sigas-4, died of diarrhea. While on Saturday, 60-year-old Bhagadevi Saud of Sigas-5 and 59-year-old Kitthe Dhami of Sigas-9 died from the same ailment.[break]
Similarly, 50-year-old Patidevi Dhami of Thalakada-4 died on Friday. Thirty-three-year-old Devaki Dhami of Gajari-5 and 45-year-old Gobade Dhami of Shivalinga-8 also died of diarrhea on Friday and Saturday respectively.
While the District Public Health Office, Baitadi, confirmed only two deaths, Red Cross staff working in the rural areas confirmed the six deaths in the district.
“There is scarcity of medicine in diarrhea hit villages,” said Indra Singh Dhami, a Red Cross staffer working in Gajari VDC. “The presence of health workers in the village is also inadequate.”
Even as diarrhea is spreading in the district, Dr Surya Prasad Bhusal of District Hospital left the district on Monday. He left for Dhangadi, according to a hospital staffer. “We don´t know why he left,” said the staffer by phone, adding, “The hospital is receiving diarrhea patients every day.”
Baitadi´s Chief District Officer Keshav Raj Ghimire said the police are trying to size up the situation. But getting prompt information is difficult as the spread has occurred in the remotest villages, he added.
In Dadeldhura, 70-year-old Taradutta Awasthi of Belapur-8 died of diarrhea four days ago. Awasthi died while receiving treatment at a local health post. More than 30 people are affected in Belapur-7 and 8, according to Shumsher Bahadur Bista, a local.
Kavindra Bista, senior Assistant Health Worker of District Public Health Office, Dadeldhura, said a team equipped with medicine has been dispatched to the village.
Last year, eight people died of diarrhea in Dadeldhura.
With the arrival of summer, an increasing number of diarrhea patients are swarming the district hospital.
The relevant District Public Health Offices said people are being increasingly affected by diarrhea in Darchula, Doti and Bajhang districts as well.
The Mahakali Zonal Hospital in Mahendranagar is also seeing an influx of diarrhea patients. Dr Sushil Dhakal said 30 to 40 diarrhea patients visit the hospital everyday. Children below the age of 10 are the most affected, he added.
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