Despite Nepal being declared open-defecation-free in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, recent cholera outbreaks in several districts, including Rautahat, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, and others, reveal significant gaps in water and sanitation infrastructure. The declaration appears to have been premature as it primarily focused on building toilets rather than ensuring comprehensive sanitation and clean drinking water.
Rautahat, for example, has seen over 100 cases of diarrheal infection, with contaminated drinking water suspected as the main culprit. Similarly, other affected districts have reported cholera outbreaks, despite being labeled as open-defecation-free years ago. This situation underscores a disconnect between official declarations and the actual state of water and sanitation on the ground.
Public health experts, such as Dr. Mingmar Gyelgen Sherpa, argue that the country emphasized outbreak management rather than addressing root causes like improving basic water and sanitation infrastructure. Additionally, many households still practice open defecation, and drinking water is often contaminated with faecal coliform, indicating sewage infiltration.
A study previously found that 81% of water samples in the Kathmandu Valley were contaminated with harmful microbes. Experts recommend that a multifaceted approach, including investment in health education, climate-resilient infrastructure, and inter-agency coordination, is essential to prevent future outbreaks and ensure public health .
