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Dr KC’s health ‘worsens’
The health condition of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) in Jumla since last Saturday, has been worsening day by day, doctors involved in his treatment said.The health condition of Dr Govinda KC, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS) in Jumla since last Saturday, has been worsening day by day, doctors involved in his treatment said.
Dr KC’s health worsened on the eighth day of his fast on Saturday, according to medics. Dr KC complains of dizziness and muscle cramp while a drop in white blood cell count has been reported.
“Dr KC’s health is deteriorating. Anything can happen any time. We are providing best possible treatment available here,” said Dr Prabin Giri, coordinator of the medical team involved in Dr KC’s treatment. He said Dr KC was being given fluids intravenously.
KAHS doctors claimed that Dr KC’s health worsened fast as he remained at the local covered hall in pathetic condition for five days before he was shifted to the hospital. Doctors took the fasting campaigner to the emergency ward on Wednesday evening from the covered hall where he had been protesting in police detention.
Dr KC remarked that he would rather die in Karnali than end his fast without the government addressing his demands. He accused the government of ignoring the students and people of the Karnali region. “I am ready to die here in Karnali as the government does not pay heed to the health and education of the Karnali people,” said Dr KC, demanding a national medical education bill based on the agreements reached between him and the government earlier.
NMA expresses solidarity
A Nepal Medical Association team is in Jumla to express its solidarity with Dr KC’s protest. The team led by NMA senior vice-chairman Dr Dhundiraj Poudel met Dr KC at the special ward of the KAHS on Saturday and expressed their solidarity with his agitation. “Doctors across the country have started working with black armbands to protest the education bill. We will serve a 72-hour ultimatum to the government on Sunday. If our demands are not addressed in the period, we’ll take stringent measures,” said Dr Poudel.