After reading news reports about decreasing population of the nomadic Raute tribe due to various illnesses and unsafe delivery, a doctor has launched a medical campaign to improve their health condition in Dang.
As part of the campaign, Dr Sushil Koirala, who works in a tuberculosis hospital in the district, held a health check-up camp in a Raute settlement at Chisapani in Tulsipur Municipality-10 on Monday.
He also distributed some medicines and essential goods such as brushes, toothpastes, soap, mosquito nets, bed sheets, quilts and clothes for women. Koirala, who purchased the essential goods and medicines spending his three months’ salary, said he initiated the campaign so that the community keeps in touch with health facilities.
“I am engaged in social work keeping aside my regular job for some months as I am encouraged to help the community after reading news reports about their decreasing population,” he said. “I hope the campaign will aware the Rautes of their health,” said Koirala, adding that he will visit the settlement from time to time to find whether their health has improved.
Though reluctant in the beginning, the Rautes expressed happiness to receive the materials and get checked up. “We are happy to get medical treatment form a doctor even in the forest,” said chieftain of the community Surya Narayan Shahi, adding that many people in his community had died due to lack of timely treatment earlier.
Koirala said most of the Rautes were suffering from physical problems such as high blood pressure and pain in the back bone and joints. He said that health condition of post-natal women is also pathetic.
Satya Devi Adhikari, chairperson of an organisation working for the community, said frequent health check-up camps like this will play a great role in preserving the community. “Only three out of 10 infants survive on an average in the community because of unsafe delivery. So, saving the lives of children and mothers is a challenge due to their difficult lifestyle in forest,” she said. The population of the community has declined from 238 in 2007 to only 131 now.
As part of the campaign, Dr Sushil Koirala, who works in a tuberculosis hospital in the district, held a health check-up camp in a Raute settlement at Chisapani in Tulsipur Municipality-10 on Monday.
He also distributed some medicines and essential goods such as brushes, toothpastes, soap, mosquito nets, bed sheets, quilts and clothes for women. Koirala, who purchased the essential goods and medicines spending his three months’ salary, said he initiated the campaign so that the community keeps in touch with health facilities.
“I am engaged in social work keeping aside my regular job for some months as I am encouraged to help the community after reading news reports about their decreasing population,” he said. “I hope the campaign will aware the Rautes of their health,” said Koirala, adding that he will visit the settlement from time to time to find whether their health has improved.
Though reluctant in the beginning, the Rautes expressed happiness to receive the materials and get checked up. “We are happy to get medical treatment form a doctor even in the forest,” said chieftain of the community Surya Narayan Shahi, adding that many people in his community had died due to lack of timely treatment earlier.
Koirala said most of the Rautes were suffering from physical problems such as high blood pressure and pain in the back bone and joints. He said that health condition of post-natal women is also pathetic.
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