Editorial | Ballots must not bleed
Summary
As Nepal approaches its March 5 parliamentary elections amid a public health crisis, concerns rise over election-related violence and the spread of infectious diseases, urging voters to exercise caution for a safe democratic process.
Key Points
- Nepal faces a risk of increased hospital emergency cases due to election-related violence coinciding with the peak influenza season.
- Political aggression and inflammatory rhetoric historically lead to violence around election times, straining healthcare resources.
- Public holidays to facilitate voter movement heighten risks of road accidents and disease transmission, particularly affecting the elderly and vulnerable.
- Health workers are overstretched during elections as they serve both medical and polling duties, impacting non-emergency healthcare services.
