Kathmandu - The Ministry of Health and Population has requested the general public not to go out except for essential work, stating that the extreme cold weather could be detrimental to health.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Prakash Budhathoki has requested people not to go out in the cold as the number of patients with symptoms including cold, cough, fever, asthma, difficulty breathing, and hypothermia will increase due to the cold.
"With the onset of winter, temperatures are lower than normal, resulting in cold waves, fog, mist, and snowfall in various areas, which have an adverse impact on public health and have led to an increase in the number of patients with symptoms such as colds, coughs, fever, asthma, difficulty breathing, and hypothermia," he said.
He has also requested that if the problems caused by the cold persist or worsen, contact the nearest health facility without delay or seek advice from the Hello Health Call Center 1115. According to him, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases are at higher risk during winter.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Budhathoki said that the air pollution that has increased with the winter season in recent years has seriously affected organs including the heart, lungs, and brain, as well as increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as asthma and cancer, and the mortality rate.
"To reduce and prevent symptoms or diseases that may arise due to cold, one should avoid smoke, eat a nutritious and balanced diet, wear warm clothes, eat oranges, lemons and amla which have sufficient amounts of vitamin C, eat fresh fruits and vegetables according to the season in sufficient quantities, pay attention to hygiene and drink plenty of fluids," he said.
