Kathmandu: The number of cholera cases in the valley dropped drastically after various intervention programmes, according to a study carried out by a non-government organization. Various intervention programmes launched by 25 NGOs in September this year have reduced the number of cholera cases to zero from 315 reported in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts up to September this year, said Anil Sthapit, director of Guthi, one of the NGOs involved.

A total of 250 volunteers were involved in creating awareness, chlorine distribution and applying chlorine in the inner city areas of Patan and Bhaktapur for a month. "In Patan hospital alone, the number of cholera cases reported was 211 before September 4 but after a month, there was no case of cholera," said Sthapit. Volunteers involved in the month-long campaign of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MPPW) launched with support from UNICEF and UN-HABITAT Water for Asian Cities programme were felicitated here on Tuesday.

Source: The Kathmandu Post; Annapurna Post, December 10, 2008