KAHS providing psychological counselling to quake victims

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Nov. 11: Professionals from the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) have started providing psychological counselling and health education to people in Jajarkot.

Currently, a team of six health workers, including Dean of KAHS' School of Public Health Professor Dr. Muniraj Chhetri, lecturer Dr. Om Prakash Kafle and Psychosocial Counsellor Nanda Raj Acharya, are in Jajarkot to help the victims of November 3's earthquake.

Dr. Chhetri informed that the team had been going to the villages, conducting health checks, distributing health materials, hygiene kits (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads and water purifying liquids) and providing psychological counselling. The health items and the hygiene kits are being distributed with support from the America Nepal Medical Foundation.

Counsellor Acharya said that the earthquake had affected the morale of the people and informed that the team had started providing collective and personal counselling to help the quake victims regain stability. 

Presently, the team is in Nalgad Municipality Ward No. 3. However, they shared that they would soon travel to Ward No. 1, one of the worst-affected areas in Jajarkot district.

After Jajarkot, the team plans to go to Rukum West. 

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Krishna Bahadur KC, information officer at Jajarkot's District Public Health Office, said that public health consultation and psychological counselling are really needed at the moment. In addition to the team under Chhetri, he said that one other team from KAHS had provided treatment and medical services in Jajarkot. 

"The Academy has been of great help," he said, thanking KAHS for its support.

The KAHS team KC was referring to, comprising Vice Chancellor Dr. Mangal Rawal, Rector Dr. Singh Dhami and others, has returned to Jumla after treating quake victims in Jajarkot. Dr. Rawal shared that during their visit, discussions were held about starting specialist services at the Jajarkot Hospital. For this, the hospital will request the government for equipment while KAHS will provide the manpower, he said.