Kailali District Sees Shift from Infectious Diseases to Non-Communicable Illnesses, Health Officials Note

Dhangadhi. The nature of diseases has significantly changed in Sudurpashchim Province. This shift is particularly noticeable in Kailali district, located in the Terai region. According to Ramesh Kunwar, Chief of the Health Office Kailali, while the district previously battled epidemics of communicable diseases, there is now a sharp rise in patients suffering from non-communicable diseases such as heart conditions, diabetes, and cancer. Although the risk of new infections remains due to the open border with India, traditional communicable diseases are being seen less frequently.

According to statistics, the infection rate of diarrhea, which affected 28,420 people in the fiscal year 2079/80, has now decreased to 9,149. Similarly, dengue infections have dropped from 1,081 to 224. The district has also seen a significant decline in maternal and newborn mortality rates.