Manhari Rural Municipality Office in Makwanpur had conducted a health camp to detect the spread of tuberculosis in mid-May. Health officials had collected sputum samples from suspected 22 tuberculosis patients. Among them, 11, including two children, were found suffering from tuberculosis.

All three family members of Shukra Bahadur Chepang, a resident of Ghaiyadanda in the municipality, were diagnosed with tuberculosis and are currently taking medicines for the disease.

Som Laxmi Chepang, a woman health volunteer, said Shukra Bahadur’s family has been on medication for the last three months.

“His family used to work in construction sites in Kathmandu, crushing pebbles and sifting sand. Their exposure to dust particles may have led to the disease,” said Som Laxmi.

Health workers claim that the number of tuberculosis patients has increased in Makwanpur due to exposure to dust and smoke.

“Families like Sukra’s who work in crusher industries as manual labourers are at risk of tuberculosis,” Bhupa Narayan Yadav, coordinator of the TB programme in Hetauda Health Office, said.

In the fiscal year 2018/19, 645 people were found suffering from tuberculosis in Makwanpur.

The tuberculosis patients have been getting treatment from the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS), according to Yadav.

Tuberculosis has been detected in Manahari, Handikhola, Basamadi, Padampokhari, Churiyamai, Harnamadi, Chhatiwan, Phaparbari Raigaun and even some parts of Hetauda Sub-metropolis. More than a dozen patients are taking medicines for tuberculosis in Hetauda, Manhari and Chhatiwan-based health facilities. 

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