Many hospitalized after elephantiasis vaccination in farwest

DHANGADI, Feb 19: After 12-year-old Nilama Chaudhary of Gadariya VDC in Kailali district took anti-elephantiasis vaccine distributed under anti-elephantiasis campaign, she started vomiting followed by sever headache and leg cramps.



She was immediately rushed to Seti Zonal Hospital after there was no sign of improvement in her condition. “As she complained of continued pain, we brought her to the hospital,” said Nilama´s mother Bhagirathi Chaudhary, who was accompanying her daughter at the emergency ward of the hospital. [break]



Likewise, Pratap Kunwar of Dhangadhi Municipality-6 was also bedridden immediately after taking the vaccine. He developed fever followed by vomitting and then fainted. He has also been admitted to the same hospital.



Nilama and Pratap are not the only such cases. After the government started distributing anti-elephantiasis vaccine in nine district of the farwestern region from February 16, hundreds of locals have fallen ill and are in hospitals.



More than 70 people have been admitted to the Seti Zonal Hospital alone because of the side effects of the vaccine over the last two days, reported Krishna Bohara, chief of emergency ward of Seti Zonal hospital.



Likewise, Nar Bahadur Mainali, a doctor at Padma Hospital in Attaria informed that as many as 30 people suffering from side effects of the elephantiasis vaccine have come to the hospital for treatment so far.



Stating that it is natural to have minor side effects of the vaccine, Jayaraj Karki, the chief of District Public Health Office (DPHO) in Kailali district said, many have taken ill after the health volunteers administered the vaccine even to those who are not suitable for taking the vaccine.



Those with high blood pressure, tuberculosis, kidney ailments and heart disease should not consume anti-elephantiasis drugs, according to health officials. Likewise, the vaccine is not suitable for children under two.



“People have undergone minor illness only. Nothing untoward has happened so far,” added Karki.



Many have taken to ill as the vaccination campaign was launched without giving proper training to the health volunteers involved, said Mainali, adding, "Some patients said they were given vaccine tablet in empty stomach."



It has been learnt that almost all health volunteers deployed for the campaign in the districts haven´t been given proper training.

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