Twenty-one people have been diagnosed with malaria in Nawalparasi, said District Public Health Office (DPHO).

Of them, 18 patients from East Nawalparasi and three from the western part of the district were found contracting the disease.

According to Nawalparasi DPHO, malaria has been found in 10 more people during first nine months of the current fiscal year in comparison to same period last year. A majority of the people in the district sleeping outside to escape the summer heat is one of the major reasons for the rise in malaria patients.

Previous Ratanpur VDC located in East Nawalparasi has been found with the highest number of patients with 7 people being diagnosed with malaria, followed by Palkihwa where three people have been detected carrying the disease, informed DPHO Chief Arun Kumar Mahato.

Though DPHO has been conducting free diagnosis for malaria, locals in the district rarely pay a visit to health centres unless the patients show severe symptoms of contracting the disease, Mahato said. “We provide proper diagnosis of malaria and begin treatment of the patients free of cost but the people rarely come to health posts unless it’s a severe case,” said Mahato, “On top of that, the open border connecting India has made it difficult to curb the spread of the disease.”

On the occasion of World Malaria Day, the DPHO, Nawalparasi has put in place a campaign with the aim to eradicate malaria from the district within 8 years.