Viral kills two in camp, AMDA remains silent

Beldangi, July 20: Carelessness of the Asian Medical Doctors’ Association (AMDA), responsible for health facilities in camps, led to the death of two children this week in Beldangi camps.

Despite the reports of spread of the viral fever, the AMDA has not shown any concern to send more medicines or experts to bring down the epidemic.

Ganga Ram Katwal, 14, of Beldangi I, sector B/2 hut no 204 expired on July 19 due to delay in referral for further treatment. He was a grade VII student at the Green Vale Academy.

After repeated attempts, in serious condition, he was sent to Biratnagar the earlier day for treatment.  The parents had to wait for four days to get referral from the camp authority of the AMDA, a Kawtal’s relative Diku Maya Karki told Bhutan News Service.

On July 14, Bhagawati Magar, 9, died due to delayed referral for treatment of the influenza. She was the resident of sector I/2 hut no 90 in Beldangi II camp and was a grade I student of Panchaoti English School. She died two hours after being referred for further treatment, on the way to Dharan.

The medical officers in the camp also admit that AMDA supplies only a limited amount of medicines to the camp health posts.

Majority of the patients are given only paracetamoles, that too is half a dose, said a staffer of Beldangi II health post.

351 viral patients visited the health post in Beldangi II in the first 17 days of this month.

Failing to get proper medication from the AMDA health posts in camps, the exiled Bhutanese have been forced to seek medication from private clinics. Pradeep Poudel of a nearby private clinic Pradeep Medical Store said more than 50 exiled Bhutanese visited his clinic in July.

Owners of the Sidhartha Medical also mentioned that more than 30 exiled Bhutanese have visited the clinic only for treatment of the viral fever. Bhutan News Service/Yadap Neopaney