Mandatory Health Screening Required for India Returnees in Border Points

Individuals traveling back home from India to observe Dashain Tihar festivities are undergoing medical examinations at the Gaddachouki checkpoint. To mitigate the risk of infectious disease transmission amid the substantial passenger volume at the border during the festival season, the government has established health screening stations that test for six categories of diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, COVID-19, dengue fever, and scrub typhus.

Siddharaj Bhatt, Public Health Officer at the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, stated that potential health conditions affecting returning citizens have been identified and addressed promptly through border-based health screening initiatives designed to prevent disease dissemination. According to Bhatt, “Individuals diagnosed with infections are transferred to medical facilities and provided complimentary treatment.”

Per the Health Office’s protocols, passengers arriving at the checkpoint who originate from Indian regions with elevated prevalence of communicable diseases such as malaria and dengue, as well as those exposed to viral pathogens, undergo diagnostic testing. Throughout Mid-September now, 4,700 health examinations were administered at the Gaddachouki checkpoint.

Among completed tests, only two individuals tested positive for tuberculosis, with no additional infections identified. According to police documentation, approximately two thousand individuals depart Nepal daily via the Gaddachouki border crossing. As Nepali nationals employed in various Indian cities have commenced their return journey, passenger traffic at the Gaddachouki crossing has escalated significantly.

In consideration of passenger convenience and security, the District Police Office in Kanchanpur has established Civil Assistance Desks throughout the district, including at the border. Deputy Superintendent of Police Tek Bahadur Rawat indicated that in response to the rising number of Nepali citizens returning through the Gaddachouki checkpoint, checkpoint surveillance has been intensified to ensure passenger safety. (RSS)