Budget crunch hits JE awareness drives in hard-hit areas
Summary
Nepal faces a surge in Japanese encephalitis cases and deaths amid budget constraints hindering awareness and vaccination efforts in affected municipalities.
Key Points
- Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases have been reported in 79 municipalities across Nepal, with an alarming rise in infections and deaths this year.
- Budget shortages at local levels have delayed preventive measures and awareness drives against JE, as seen in Rapti Municipality and others.
- Vaccination, especially for unvaccinated adults, is hindered by lack of funds and vaccine supply, despite its proven effectiveness in controlling JE.
- Experts emphasize controlling mosquitoes, vaccinating unvaccinated children first, and generating accurate data before mass immunization for adults.
