RUKUM WEST, Nov 24: In order to identify the mental problems in earthquake victims, Athabiskot Municipality of Rukum West is providing counseling services through integrated health mobile camps.
A group of doctors reached various settlements to meet the people who were injured in the earthquake with its epicenter at Ramidanda in Jajarkot on the night of 3rd November and with the help of various organizations, they are providing health services to the earthquake victims.
Although the two-day health camp concluded on Thursday, health coordinator Prem Prakash Rokaya of Aathbiskot Municipality said that psychosocial counseling work is continuing in the affected areas to reduce mental stress after the earthquake with the help of various organizations.
According to him, for two days, free medical care was provided to the injured and sick in wards 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, which were most badly affected by the earthquake, and necessary medicines were also provided to the sick.
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Rokaya said that some problems were found in the injured and sick people who were examined in the camp which was conducted for two days in the municipality.
He said that while examining the injured, sick and common people from the most affected wards 9 to 14 in the municipality, fever, cold, diarrhea, body aches and mental problems were observed.
Rokaya said that normal patients were given medication and those who had mental problems were given general counseling for the time being.
He said that a mental health and psychosocial counseling camp will be conducted at the city hospital on 27th November, as mental problems will not be reduced by general counseling.
According to the municipality, a mental and psychosocial counseling camp will be conducted by a senior mental illness specialist with the technical support of CMC Nepal.
Rokaya, the municipality's health coordinator, said that various psycho-social counseling service centers have been established at ward level to reduce stress by giving necessary suggestions to the victims in the areas most affected by the earthquake.
Dhan Kumari Shahi, deputy mayor of the municipality, said that various organizations are coordinating with the municipality to understand the problems of the victims, give necessary advice, suggestions and collect details of identifying mental problems.
According to her, WOREC, TPO, CMC and SOSEC Nepal, which are working in the social sector, are cooperating. Deputy Mayor Shahi said that the most affected areas and families who have lost relatives will be given counseling services on first priority.
Hari Bahadur Oli, a resident of Athabiskot-13 Bhalma, said that due to the extreme cold recently, health problems such as fever and cold have started appearing in the family.
According to him, although temporary housing has been constructed for some earthquake-affected families, many affected families are forced to spend the night in tarpaulin due to lack of construction of temporary housing. Teacher Bhiva Bahadur Oli said that if the temporary housing is not built on time and if tarpaulin continues to be supported, there will be more health problems.
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