On July 12, 2023, Nepal’s First Lady Sita Dahal, the wife of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda, passed away at the age of 69, after suffering from a rare neurological condition for a long time. She died in the Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu at 8:33 AM
She was suffering from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Parkinson, diabetes, and hypertension disease according to the bulletin issued by the hospital. It is a rare condition that can cause problems with balance, movement, vision, speech, and swallowing.
She was admitted to the hospital after her health conditions became critical and serious. PM Prachanda and his wife, Sita Dahal, had three daughters and one son Their daughter Gyanu Dahal and son Prakash Dahal have already passed away.
She is survived by Prime Minister Prachanda and two daughters Renu and Ganga. One of her daughters, Renu Dahal, is currently serving as a mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Her last rites will be conducted at Aryaghat at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu in the afternoon.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also expressed his condolences to his Nepalese counterpart over the passing away of his wife, Sita Dahal.
“Extremely saddened to learn about the demise of Sita Dahal, I express my sincere condolences to PM Prachanda and pray that the departed soul finds eternal peace, Om Shanti,” PM Modi said on Twitter.
According to the personal physician of Nepal’s Prime Minister Yubraj Sharma said: “Sita Dahal, 69 years/female, known case Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Parkinsonism Diabetes Mellitus-II and hypertension under (on/off) Domiciliary oxygen with PEG Feeding and indwelling catheters went into cardiac arrest at 8:00 AM, 27th Ashad (July 12) Despite resuscitation, she could not be revived and declared dead at 8:33 AM.”
In honour of her Memory, her body will be kept at the party central office in Parisdanda, Koteshwar, from 11 AM to 1 PM, allowing family, friends, and well-wishers to pay their final respects
The PSP is different from Parkinson’s Disease, which is another movement disorder, although they share some symptoms. Currently, there is no effective treatment for PSP, but some symptoms can be managed with medications and other interventions. The disease is known for causing damage to the nerve cells in the brain that control thinking and body movement.
The disorder’s long name indicates that the disease worsens (progressive) and causes weakness (palsy) by damaging certain parts of the brain above nerve cell clusters called nuclei(supranuclear) that control eye movement.
In October 2022, Sita Dahal was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after her health deteriorated. She was taken to various hospitals in India and Nepal for further treatment, but her condition did not improve.
According to doctors and medical experts, PSP is a disease which is highly rare and is seen in only 5-6 out of 1,00,000 people. There are additional symptoms of PSP which include stiffness, falling backwards, slow speech, choking etc. The disease is also called Steele Richardson Olszewski syndrome
Progressive supranuclear palsy worsens over time, and it can lead to life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and swallowing problems. There is no cure for progressive supranuclear palsy, so treatment focuses on managing the signs and symptoms.
However, the diagnosis of PSP involves a combination of medical history, physical exam, mental exam and imaging tests. The treatment involves a combination of medication, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Medications can help manage PSP symptoms such as muscle rigidity and slurred speech. Physical therapy can help improve mobility and balance. Occupational therapy can help with day-to-day activities such as eating and dressing. Lifestyle changes such as avoiding alcohol and smoking can also help slow down the progression of PSP.
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