Experts highlight challenges in burns treatment in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nov 7: Experts have said treating burns in Nepal remains challenging, as it is expensive and the country lacks both skilled workforce and proper equipment.     

Speaking at an interaction on 'Social Discrimination against Burns Survivors and Coordination' organized on Friday on the occasion of the Third National and Second World Burns Week ( November 3-8) , plastic surgeon Prof Dr Shankarman Rai said that Nepal is still awaiting the production of required number of plastic surgeons.     

According to him, though the government has pursued a policy to provide burns treatment across all provinces, the absence of sufficient skilled workforce poses a major challenge to its implementation. “The production of skilled workforce must be prioritized,” he stressed.     

Plastic surgeon Associate Prof Dr Pashupati Babu Pokharel added that burns treatment, including follow-up checks, hospital stays, and medication, is highly expensive and often unaffordable for low-income people. “The survival rate for over 40 percent of patients remains vital, while skilled human resources and equipment in short supply are other sheer hindrances,” he said.     

Pro Dr Piyush Dahal, founder of the Nepal Burns Foundation and plastic surgeon, said burns are one of the significant health issues for low-income countries. In Nepal, around 1,500 to 2,000 people die from burns annually, with women and children being the most affected. He emphasized the need for effective policies, awareness programmes, and information dissemination to minimize burn cases.     

Burn survivor Jeni Khadka shared her experiences of social discrimination against people like her and called for more opportunities in various sectors for burn survivors.(RSS)