Save World Champion of Human Rights: Dr Govinda KC! (#PeopleFirst)

On 21st Aashar, 2069 B.S Dr. Govinda KC kicked off a hunger strike for the first time. He is now on the 23rd day of his 19th hunger strike. The government of Nepal is ignoring the legitimate demands of Dr. KC. Therefore, it is crucial for ordinary people like us to show solidarity to him.

Dr. Govinda KC is a Nepali orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist. He was born on the 25th of March, 1957 in Ramechhap in Janakpur, Nepal. K.C. has been brought into the highlight for the humanitarian activities. He is most known for being a campaigner against the corruptions and undue political pressure faced by the medical sector. Becoming a doctor appears to be a far-fetch dream for the residents of Karnali, Humla, khotang, Rautahat, jajarkot, Rukum, Rolpa Darchula, Bajang, Bajura et cetera due to the unaffordability and accumulation of medical colleges in the valley. Article 31 of the constitution of Nepal 2072 mentions Right to education.

The government has not addressed the fundamental right of people. Thus, we must support Dr. KC's demand for assuring access to medical education in remote places of Nepal. The major question is, to what extent is it okay for ordinary people like us to sacrifice our dream? Thus, this is a common fight for us to secure the right to education irrespective of our geographical location and economic condition.

Nepal has 20 medical colleges. Approximately, 15,000 students appear for the MBBS entrance exam but the total number of seats stands only 1,900 in the nation. More than 500 students go abroad for medical study. Nepal has an acute shortage of doctors and nurses (there is one nurse for every 500 people). The doctor-patient ratio is less than the WHO-prescribed limit of 1:1000. Nepal requires more medical colleges. Thus, dr. KC’s demand for the expansion of medical colleges out-side the valley is legitimate.

One of the most remote districts of Nepal, Accham with a population of almost 250,000 has only one hospital. Jumla district does not have a single health post in more than 30 wards out of 60 (the remaining 30 health centers in the district are not operating smoothly). Most of the time residents of Jumla have to come to ‘Cities’ for treatment. Untimely death is most frequent in Jumla. Likewise, in case of emergency, the patients from Mugu district are airlifted for many years instead of building a hospital there itself. The Karnali province has a sheer lack of resources and medicines. aMeanwhile, Sudurpaschim, the largest multidimensionally poor people- population provinces of Nepal, has 6743 wards in total.

However, there are only 378 health posts and 14 hospitals for a population of 2.553 million. The government of Nepal must ensure access to health care as demanded by Dr. KC since there is a violation of article 35 of the constitution on the right to health care. Similarly, unaffordable health services have remained as a long-standing issue in our country. We, ordinary people, are a direct victim of these inequalities. Only 33 percent of women in the lowest wealth quintile have access to skilled birth attendants, whereas 92 percent of women in the highest wealth quintile have access. Likewise, in rural areas, 43 percent of the population has no sanitation facilities, whereas 90 percent of the population in urban areas does. This is why KC's demand to address these inequalities is lawful.

Emilia is a true example for the world who is European citizen doing a 1-day hunger Strike for Nepal on 7th October and sharing the message that though we are divided by territories but our heart of humanity is the same. Many people are coming to streets and showing creative forms of protest to save the life of Dr. Govinda KC but the government has been ignoring his demand for a very long time. Nine months into the pandemic, the government has given up on its fight against Covid-19. It neither had any plan nor worked to improve health care facilities. The country’s health care facilities have been overwhelmed already. Those who can afford can go to private hospitals in case they contract the virus; the poor have been left to fend for themselves. Since the very beginning.

Let’s create a bigger movement to save the life of the world champion of human rights. If we didn’t save the life of Dr. KC right now, then humanity will die from this world. Let’s not let humanity die too easily. #peoplefirst #iamwithDr.KC.