DHADING, DEC 01 -
Gone are the days when the Chepang community, an indigenous ethnic group, refused to visit health posts. Members of the community would refuse to have their children vaccinated saying it is against their tradition. These days, members of the community in Dhusa VDC in Dhading district visit the nearby health post and get their children vaccinated. Moreover, they are spreading awareness on vaccination and health in the community.
The community had a belief in the past that children would die if vaccinated and that the Uttarkali Devi would save them, health worker at a Dhusa-based sub-health post Risheshwor Sharma said. “But nowadays they come to the post with their children to vaccinate them,” he said.
“We would refuse to comply when health workers visited our settlement,” recalled a local Sanu Maya Chepang. “Now, things have changed and we are slowly understanding the importance of vaccination and our health,” she said.
There are 43 Chepang households in the village.
Health workers said the community in Bidang and Dumbang VDCs are growing more aware of their health and hygeine.
Door-to-door health campaigns and a campaign on sanitation and health conducted by Peace Nepal, a local NGO, has worked miracles, said another health worker at the post, Rishi Timalsina.
“They have set up latrines in their households and are spreading awareness on sanitation among others,” said P.R. Sharma, the coordinator of the NGO.
Posted on: 2010-12-01 09:01
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