Bajhang, Nov. 26 -- Back in September, a school teacher from Golai in Jayaprithvi Municipality Ward No. 4, Bajhang, was admitted to the district hospital after he complained of severe fever and headache, says Dr Sandip Okheda, chief at the district hospital.

The 40-year-old man was diagnosed with meningitis during his health check-up, and the hospital immediately referred him to Nepalgunj or Kathmandu for treatment. However, the patient's relatives took him to local shamans. "We thought that the patient had been taken to Kathmandu or Nepalgunj. But four days later, he was brought back to the district hospital," said Okheda.

"His situation had worsened. After much convincing, his family took him to a well-facilitated hospital in Kathmand...