At a time when the attention of the nation has been drawn to ongoing political stalemate, people in Mid and Far Western Regions that are gripped by diarrhea outbreak are requesting the authorities for packets of life-saving Jeevanjal (oral rehydration solution) before the constitution.
Diarrhea turns into an epidemic every year but the government and other stakeholders are least bothered about the issue. A very common disease, which could be prevented by maintaining sanitation, claimed over 450 lives last year and 17 people have already died this year in seven districts of Mid and Far Western regions.
Lack of basic information on diarrhea, deep-rooted superstition, severe drought and defecating in the open are major contributing factors for the spread of diarrhea. The diarrhea affected districts are remote districts where there is not sufficient manpower in the health sector. Patients die before they reach the health institutions which are far and very few. Four persons have died in Jajarkot district this year, where 219 persons had died of diarrhea last year. According to the District Health Office, all the victims died at their home without getting treatment.
During a study conducted by International Rescue Committee in 10 VDCs of Jajarkot district, 90 percent of the respondents said they did not go to the health centres due to various reasons. The report released on June 27, 2009 said, of the total respondents, 10 percent said they did not attend health centres as they could not find doctors there, 41 percent said they could not get medicine there and 49 percent of them said that they did not go to health posts as the health institutions are very far. The response of 90 percent respondents revealed that the health institutions were not able to provide effective health services.
The disease could be prevented had a massive awareness campaign been launched in the diarrhea affected districts with some basic support for treatment. Officials at the District Health Offices said sufficient medicines has been stored to control the disease but they are yet to launch awareness campaign so that people could visit health institutions immediately after they notice the disease rather than following the traditional healing system.
Article 16 (2) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2006 guarantees health as a fundamental right. The Article states, Every citizen shall have the right to get basic health service free of cost from the State as provided for in the law, but people are dying every day without getting basic health facility like ORS. Simply incorporating rights in the constitution does not yield any fruit so the state should prepare grounds for providing these rights. Providing basic needs of the people like appropriate food, basic health facilities and security is the responsibility of the government but the government, mired in political stalemate, has failed to provide any. The government is bound to fulfill the fundamental rights of the people, so it should incorporate the issues which are viable to provide as fundamental rights. Incorporating rights as fundamental rights without proper preparation and capacity of the state does not yield any fruit so the lawmakers have to realise this issue.
People had high hopes for peace and prosperity after the success of April uprising of 2006, but in vain. All the political parties indulged in political give and take following the success of Jana Aandolan II rather than prioritizing the public issues. The political parties wasted two years after the Jana Aandolan II while exchanging blame upon each other. Though the Comprehensive Peace Agreement has formally ended the decade-long armed conflict in the country, the conflict victims are yet to get justice. The government and the then conflicting party UCPN-M, which emerged as the largest party of the constituent assembly, has not abided by their commitments.
The main issue is empowering people and allowing them to enjoy their rights. The political parties have to work towards this but if they continue to be guided by their petty personal and partisan interests, it wont be long before they too face the same fate as former King Gyanendra.
(This article also appeared in www.nepalnews.com)