Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Campaign in Nawalparasi Nears Target Amid Rising Infections

Nawalparasi. The special vaccination campaign against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) being conducted in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) is making remarkable progress, nearing its target.

Most of the targeted population in all eight local levels of the district have received the vaccine service in the campaign conducted simultaneously across the area. According to Keshav Chapagain, Chief of the Provincial Public Health Office, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), 69.1 percent of the targeted population had received the vaccine service as of Chaitra 6. So far, 103,752 people have been vaccinated under the campaign, including 42,841 males and 60,911 females.

“Remarkable achievement has been made in a short period,” he said, adding, “The campaign is moving forward successfully according to the target.” According to Public Health Officer Pravinkumar Khanal, vaccination services are continuously operating in all local levels of the district. “Vaccination progress is particularly good in Baudikali Rural Municipality and Bulingtar Rural Municipality,” he stated, “Baudikali has achieved 95.1 percent progress, and Bulingtar has achieved 87 percent.”

The vaccination campaign targeting citizens above 35 years of age began on Chaitra 1, following an increasing trend in Japanese Encephalitis infection rates in the district in recent years. The campaign aimed to vaccinate approximately 150,000 citizens.

“All citizens in the target age group were urged to receive the vaccination service,” Chief Chapagain said, “We have succeeded in getting close to the target because the vaccination campaign was conducted effectively.”

According to the Health Office, 15 cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been detected in the district in the current fiscal year alone, six of whom have died. The vaccination campaign has been prioritized to control the risk of the disease.