Solukhumbu, 14 March: The outbreak of viral infections has reached a peak in the mountainous district of Solukhumbu. In the last few weeks, the number of patients suffering from viral fever, cold, cough, asthma, pneumonia, diarrhea, headaches and respiratory problems has been increasing significantly in various parts of the district.
According to the health office, the patient load has increased abnormally, which has created difficulties in the service delivery at Phaplu Hospital, the district’s main health center.
More than a dozen patients are reaching the District Hospital, Phaplu, for treatment due to viral infections every day. The hospital administration has stated that more than 50 patients are currently being admitted and treated in this fifteen-bed hospital. This has also created challenges in human resource management, said Sani Sherpa, acting chief of the hospital.
According to him, all the beds in the hospital are full, due to which even the beds in the maternity ward are being used to treat other patients. “Most of the patients admitted to the hospital are with viral infections. The manpower is limited, but the patient pressure is high. Right now, we are mobilizing all available resources,” said Sherpa.
Oxygen is also provided to OPD patients
Most of the patients coming to the hospital are in critical condition. According to doctors, patients suffering from fever, asthma, pneumonia and respiratory problems need to be given oxygen. “All the beds in the hospital are full. We are treating other patients even in the beds in the maternity ward. If the number of patients increases further, we may have to be treated on the floor,” said Dr. Ram Babu Joshi.
Dr. Joshi said that children and the elderly are the most affected by the viral infection. Health officials have urged children to take special precautions and suggested that they drink enough water, stay away from crowds, wear masks and pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid health problems. The shortage of manpower and necessary medicines at Phaplu Hospital has caused additional problems.
The hospital administration has stated that the number of health workers is limited due to the remote area, but the high patient load is making it difficult to provide effective treatment. According to Dr. Shreya Pangeni of the hospital, there is a need to take precautions as viral fevers spread easily from one person to another.
Building is well-equipped, manpower is lacking
A well-equipped building for Solukhambu District Hospital Faplu, which has been providing health services from a small hut in Sana Sanghura for the past 54 years, has been completed. The building, which had not been built for years due to various reasons, was constructed after Namgeljangbu Sherpa, the mayor of Solududhkunda Municipality, increased the initiative and coordination among the concerned bodies.
Integrated health services are set to begin in a new disabled-friendly building with a lift after a joint inauguration by District Coordination Committee Chief and Hospital Management Committee Chairman Krishna Prasad Niraula and Solududhkund Municipality Mayor Namgeljangbu Sherpa on Wednesday. However, health workers at the hospital say that treatment is being hampered due to the extremely low manpower.
The hospital’s acting chief Sherpa said that the Koshi Province government had approved only 15 beds for this hospital, but there was a corresponding manpower requirement. Due to this, the Hospital Development Committee had to operate the service by keeping more than half of the staff on contract, he said. The hospital administration stated that although the manpower is limited as it is a hospital in a Himalayan district, the pressure of patients is high, so it has to face a shortage of health equipment, medicines and manpower for treatment.
Krishna Prasad Niraula, chief of the District Coordination Committee Solukhumbu, who is also the chairman of the Hospital Management Committee, said that they will coordinate with the local level, state and federal governments in managing human resources and equipment according to the hospital’s vacancies. Namgeljangbu Sherpa, chief of Solududhkunda Municipality, said that since the district hospital has excellent physical infrastructure, they will work to make it efficient and standard in service delivery.
He is committed to providing all possible assistance to the municipality in facilitating the management of manpower and necessary equipment at this hospital located in Solududhkunda Municipality-4. The 30-bed hospital building, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 212.1 million by the Ministry of Urban Development, was started from Poush 27, 2076 BS and handed over to the hospital by the construction company on Asad 25.
Founded 54 years ago by Sir Edmund Hillary, who first set foot on the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, Faplu Hospital is spread over an area of ​​64 ropanis. The hospital administration has stated that the newly constructed building is spread over an area of ​​seven ropanis. The hospital had been providing services from the old building for a long time due to the lack of its own well-equipped building. The hospital management committee has stated that the government has faced challenges in service delivery due to the reduction in staff posts.
