Gandaki State Health Ministry’s neglect of sanitation fuels dengue infection risk

KATHMANDU: The Gandaki State Health Ministry is conducting a “Search and Destroy” campaign to eliminate mosquito breeding sites responsible for transmitting dengue fever. However, it has come to light that the ministry has neglected sanitation efforts within its own premises.

Old tires, broken utensils, empty bottles, scrap materials, and kitchen waste are scattered around the ministry, increasing the risk of dengue infection.

During a visit to the ministry premises on Tuesday afternoon, stagnant water was observed in old tires near the parking lot. Health workers indicate that clean water trapped in these tires serves as a breeding ground for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector for dengue fever.

Clean and stagnant water in old tires, drums, empty containers, and similar items is where these mosquitoes lay their eggs.

The current campaign aims to disrupt the mosquito life cycle by finding and destroying these breeding sites.

Despite the responsibility of managing the entire health sector in Gandaki Province, the ministry itself has failed to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The ministry, which was established as a separate entity apart from the Ministry of Social Development and Health, is currently operating from the provincial health directorate’s building.

While the internal offices of the ministry appear clean and tidy, the external premises are disorganized. The garden in front of the main building is overgrown with grass due to a lack of cleaning. Waste from the ministry’s cafeteria is carelessly discarded behind the building, and unmaintained vehicles and furniture are left in disarray.

Abandoned items, including tires and carpets, clutter the parking area, with rainwater accumulating on these items. The situation was dire on the same day that Health Minister Krishna Prasad Pathak unveiled a health sector reform action plan. After a pipe burst at the handwashing basin, waste containers were placed haphazardly to manage the water runoff.

Old metal materials, zinc sheets, plastic, and empty bottles are strewn about the premises. Why is the health ministry, which teaches others about cleanliness, allowing its own sanitation to lapse? Prashantaraj Sharma, the ministry’s information officer and senior health education officer, acknowledged that while regular cleaning is conducted, some areas may have been overlooked. “If there are shortcomings in cleanliness, we will address it with the relevant staff. As a new ministry, there are still some administrative tasks to complete,” he stated.

Rajendra Regmi, a public health inspector at the Pokhara Metropolitan Health Department, emphasized the importance of preventing stagnant water accumulation in homes, offices, and public places to avoid mosquito bites. He noted that despite the municipality’s efforts to initiate a search and destroy campaign at the ward level, preventing dengue has become increasingly challenging. “The risk of dengue infection rises significantly a few days after the rains stop, so everyone in the community needs to remain vigilant,” Regmi advised.

He stated that avoiding mosquito bites is the best way to control dengue, as the mosquito bites only during the day. In case of dengue symptoms, immediate testing and necessary treatment should be initiated. Symptoms typically include sudden high fever, bleeding, and body aches.

According to the health ministry, nearly 12,000 dengue infections have been confirmed across the province to date.

The health department of Pokhara Metropolitan City reported over 5,000 confirmed cases since the past December alone. High population density areas are witnessing rapid dengue spread, particularly in urban centers.

The risk of dengue infection is expected to persist until mid-November, indicating a potential increase in the number of cases this year, Regmi cautioned.

He reported that three deaths due to dengue have occurred in Pokhara, with wards 5 and 8 being among the most affected.