Kanchanpur, October 15
People returning from India to celebrate Dashain and Tihar are undergoing health screenings at the Gaddachauki checkpoint.
To reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission amid increased cross-border movement during the festival season, the government has established health screening stations to test for six diseases: malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, COVID-19, dengue and scrub typhus.
Siddharaj Bhatt, public health officer at the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, said the screening initiatives were designed to identify health conditions among returning citizens and ensure timely treatment.
“Individuals diagnosed with infections are referred to health facilities and provided free treatment,” Bhatt said.
According to the District Health Office, passengers arriving from Indian regions with a high prevalence of communicable diseases, including malaria and dengue, as well as those at risk of viral infections, undergo diagnostic testing.
Since mid-September, 4,700 health screenings have been conducted at the Gaddachauki checkpoint. Of those screened, only two people tested positive for tuberculosis, while no other infections were detected.
According to police records, around 2,000 people cross the Gaddachauki border from Nepal into India daily. As Nepali nationals working in various Indian cities have begun returning home for the festivals, the number of passengers arriving at the checkpoint has increased significantly.
To ensure passenger safety and convenience, the District Police Office in Kanchanpur has established civil assistance desks at various locations across the district, including the border checkpoint.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat said surveillance at the checkpoint had been intensified in response to the growing number of Nepali citizens returning through Gaddachauki to ensure their safety.
—RSS
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