Nepal, June 3 -- Many people in Nepal continue to die from preventable causes, especially in rural areas. The country boasts more than 3,800 health posts at various local levels as "the first institutional contact point for service delivery." Yet these institutions lack not only quality healthcare facilities and professionals but also fail to launch basic awareness programmes. Moreover, district-level hospitals are still far from reach of many, let alone advanced hospitals in the federal capital.

One issue that has long persisted in rural areas but is largely overlooked-even as it takes a toll on dozens of people each year-is the consumption of wild mushrooms. Experts warn the number of poisonings and deaths could be higher than reported...