Biratnagar, April 8 -- Gramthan Rural Municipality, located a short distance from Biratnagar, the capital of Koshi province, is home to a settlement facing a growing public health crisis. In ward 2 of this Tharu-dominated locality, lies the Sardar settlement-locally known as Bataraitola-where paralysis linked to high blood pressure has affected a large number of residents.

Home to around 300 households and a population of roughly 1,100, the Sardar settlement appears orderly at first glance. Paved roads and a concrete temple suggest a degree of development. But a closer look reveals a starkly different reality. Inside the rows of thatched homes, many residents are bedridden, while elderly people move slowly with the support of sticks. A s...