Locals of Dharche Rural Municipality-5 and 6, who are suffering from seasonal viral fever, are having a hard time getting hold of medicines due to shortage of medications in the district.

A majority of the households in Yamgaun, Lapsibot of Gumda and Khanigaun of Lapu are infected by the viral fever. 

“Almost every household has sick family members, in some there are 3-4 people suffering from the disease. Most of them are children and they have not been able to attend school,” said Mahendra Gurung, a local of Gumda, “Some of the locals who had recovered from the illness have also caught the viral infection again.”

Meanwhile, the locals have vented ire over the carelessness of the local health post despite the surge in viral patients. 

“When we go to the health post for treatment, the people there tell us to drink hot water,” said Gurung. 

The health post does not even have a paracetamol to give to the sick. 

Gumda Health Post Chief Amrit Ghale said that normal seasonal common cold had spread in the area. “We have essential medicines,” said Ghale, “The seasonal common cold is get better without administrating any medications.”

Ghale further said that the health post has sent an office assistant to the district headquarters to buy additional medicines. 

Meanwhile, public health officials said that the shortage in essential medications could have been due to the new procurement process which is now done by the local level government. The district public health office was earlier responsible for the procurement of medicines for local health posts.