Children in the far-western districts have been deprived of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine due to the shortage of BCG syringes for the last two months. 

According to the Regional Medical Store in Dhangadhi, the Logistics Management Division could not supply BCG syringe in the region as the officials were unable to invite tender in time. The vaccine is supposed to be administered to children below the age of one to prevent from tuberculosis (TB).

Khagendra Shahi, chief of the District Public Health Office (DPHO), said the medical store informed about the shortage two months ago. “Around 40,000 children have been deprived of the BCG vaccine in Kailali district alone,” he said. Janak Kunwar, cold chain officer of the DPHO in Kanchanpur, said the office ran out of BCG syringes last month. “The centre has assured to supply the BCG syringes soon,” said Kunwar. 

 Bajhang and Dadeldhura based-health centres have also demanded BCG syringes from the Regional Medical Store.

Bhojraj Bhatta, immunisation officer of District Health Office in Dadeldhura, said BCG syringes were not available in the district. Laxmi Kumar Shrestha, officiating chief of the Regional Medical Store, said that the Logistics Management Division has informed them that it could take at least a month for the BCG syringes to arrive before it could make the supply.

“The BCG immunisation service has come to a halt in Kailali and Kanchanpur,” said Shrestha.

Drugs shortage in Kapilvastu

KAPILVASTU: Around 50 health institutions in Kapilvastu are reeling under shortage of free essential medicines since November 20. Bijaya Siti, a health worker at the DPHO, said the Western Regional Medical Store has not supplied sufficient quantity of essential medicines to the district. People living in rural areas have been affected by the shortage, he added. A health centre at Photu VDC in Mugu is also facing shortage of medicines. Health worker Gagan Shahi claimed that the shortage was caused because the District Health Office has not supplied medicines to the centre for almost a year.