Need of improving health check, surveillance at border points: Experts

By NayakPaudel/LaxmanPaudel

Kathmandu/Bhairahawa, May 7: With the increase in cases of COVID-19 and detection of new variants of the virus in India, thousands of Nepalis working there have been returning home. Since April, over 22,000 Nepalis have returned to Nepal via the border point of Belahaiya in Bhairahawa alone. The number of Nepalis returning via several border points across the country is far higher.
According to the Area Police Office, Belahaiya, around 300-400 Nepalis are entering through the border point on a daily basis recently as well.
The returnees go through health screening at health desks established in the border entry points. Health personnel check the individual’s fever with thermal guns or thermometers and also inquire about other symptoms at the health desks.
As per the officials, they collect the sample of individuals with high fever for examination and keep them under hold until their report arrives.
Nepalis working in New Delhi, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat states of India and other cities return to Nepal via Belahaiya. Similarly, these cities are battling with a worrying increase of COVID-19 cases.
According to the Rupandehi District Administration Office, which looks after the Belahaiya health desk, they have been conducting antigen tests at the health desk since April 15.
“In between April 15 to May 5, altogether 8,056 Nepalis have entered through Belahaiya. Among those, 600 were diagnosed with high fever and their samples were sent for testing. The test reports showed 55 of those individuals positive for COVID-19,” said Janak Thapa, administrative officer at Rupandehi District Administration Office.
However, locals, returnees and experts have argued that the capacity, capability and operations of the health desks were not enough to help prevent COVID-19 cases from entering the border. “Many of the Nepalis have already returned, while some are still returning. There are health desks but they only check for fever. If an individual has no fever, s/he is free to go,” said Ram Krishna Pokhrel, a resident of Arghakhanchi who had returned from New Delhi via Belahaiya border point.
According to health experts, testing samples collected from people with high fever alone would not help authorities to prevent COVID-19 positive individuals from entering Nepal undetected.
“It is not compulsory that a COVID-19 positive individual must have fever. Since health desks have only been checking for temperature of returnees, it is a loop hole which allows many positive cases from entering Nepal unnoticed,” said Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist.
As per the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), there are a total of 10 health desks in different border points including Belahaiya.
There are health desks in Gaddachauki, Kanchanpur; Gaur, Rautahat; Inaruwa, Parsa; Jamunaha, Banke; Kakarbhitta, Jhapa; Krishnanagar, Kapilvastu; Pashupatinagar, Ilam; Rani, Morang; and Trinagar, Kanchanpur.
The COVID-19 Situation Report by the MoHP shows that 25,796 tests have been conducted in the 10 health desks since March 19 to May 4. Among the tests, 2,353 have been tested positive.
Recently, only around 500 to 600 individuals are examined for COVID-19 through the 10 health desks on a daily basis. “The numbers of tests which have been conducted through the health desks in border areas aren’t enough because thousands are entering and only a handful is tested. Authorities must manage to conduct tests of as many returnees possible to mitigate chances of COVID-19 positive individuals from reaching communities,” said Dr. Pun.
Meanwhile, talking to The Rising Nepal earlier, spokesperson for MoHP Dr. Jageshwor Gautam had informed that the government was underway to expand the capacity of health desks.
“The returnees from India pose high risk of spreading COVID-19 due to which we are planning to open only few of the border entry points and manage proper holding centres and testing facilities. We are coordinating with provincial and local levels to upgrade the health desks and conduct testing of as many returnees as possible,” said Dr. Gautam.
However, experts suggested that the government should take necessary steps at the earliest rather than causing delay with bureaucratic processes.