Soaring temperature takes a massive toll in Accham

People of the remote hilly district of Accham in far-western region are not only facing possible food shortages due to drought caused by extended dry spell, they are also increasingly falling ill due to the intense heat wave.

Reports quoted district health officials as saying that more than 20 percent of the population -around 50,000 people - in the impoverished district has been taken ill due to the heat wave compounded by soaring temperature.

The district has not received any rain for last three weeks and the temperature has shot up to an all time high of 41 degrees, surpassing the average temperature of below 35 degrees.

Due to this, people have started to throng district-based hospitals and health centers with all sorts of ailments such as diarrhea, typhoid, high fever and dysentery and their numbers are increasing every day.

Considering the number of sick people – the district hospital alone has been receiving at least 500 patients on a daily basis – hospitals and health centers in the district are providing 24-hour service, the Post reported.

“They just keep on coming. Hospital and health centers have run out of beds. Many people are being kept on the verandas and wherever there is open space,” Dr Puroshottam Raj Sodaya, the chief of District Public Health Office (DPHO) told the newspaper.

He said that so far the hospitals and health centers have not faced shortage of essential medicine.

“But if the situation persists, we cannot say anything,” he said.

Extended drought compounded by high temperatures has already destroyed 50 percent of the crops in the impoverished district. nepalnews.com June 24 09