By Our Correspondent, Baitadi, Mar 23:  Shamans (Dhami community) in Baitadi district are currently busy generating awareness about COVID-19 among locals.

The shamans, who are known for typical shamanist treatments, decided to conduct awareness generating campaigns against coronavirus from their 45^th general assembly.

Hari Prasad Joshi, secretary of Shamans Community, said that people needed to be made aware of virus transmission risks at the local levels. “Awareness needs to be grown because Nepal is at risk of the outbreak of the coronavirus,” he said.

The Shamans Community, formed in 1997 with 60 members, holds its general convention twice a year during Dashain and Chaite Dashain. People in Baitadi celebrate ‘Chaite Navaratri’ by organising a huge gathering and worshipping in temples.

Stating that COVID-19 had spread as a global pandemic, Joshi further said that the community would convince people to worship their god and goddess, without crowding.

“Peace worship will be continued, but it all needs precautions like frequent hand wash, avoiding public gathering and wearing masks while travelling in public places,” he added

Local shamans were actively conducting social works like making people aware of Chhaupadi and launching campaigns for family planning in the district. “We frequently run awareness generating programmes,” Joshi added.

The community encouraged locals to use means of family planning, and illuminate Chhaugoths in coordination with Patan branch. Health clinics run by this community are found effective in the district.