URBAN HEALTH HAZARDS
The
Kathmandu Post
25
December 2016
URBAN
HEALTH HAZARDS
This
is a welcome decision of Ministry of Health (MOH) to set up 10 urban centres in
different parts of Kathmandu under the direct supervision and monitoring of
District Health Office (“MoH to set up
10 urban health promotion centres” 22 December, Page 02). The health
situation of people in urban areas does not seem to be satisfactory. There
could be many factors behind this, which need to be addressed simultaneously and
quickly by the concerned authorities. The urban people are found to be suffering
from various kinds of diseases due to unhealthy living conditions and unavailability
of quality foods and safe drinking water.. The main function of these centres
will be to promote healthy lifestyle and inspect quality of food and water.
The
MoH has to put its effort to monitor the quality control of the private
clinics, pathology test centres, private hospitals and abortion centres. We
have heard news that many of such health service centres have been operating
without proper registration. They are also accused of having unqualified staff.
Doctors treat patients and prescribe medicines based on such lab tests. How effective
and reliable will the treatment of be from doctors who solely depend on dubious
tests? If the government continues to ignore these health problems in urban centres,
there will be sooner or later health hazards which could be hard to control
Many
urban areas of Nepal have started facing increasing threats of infectious
diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and pneumonia and non-communicable
diseases like asthma, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Time has come for the
government to be serious about tackling these health issues by establishing urban
centres swiftly and strengthening its supervision and monitoring activities in privately
run health service centres to ensure quality medical services. The composition
of health professionals to be deputed in these planned health centres is yet to
be seen. However, the government’s effort to improve the quality of life of its
people could be a positive step forward of it is implemented.
Rai Biren Bangdel
Majharajgunj
http://epaper.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2016-12-25/7
