Timely treatment can cure anthrax infection

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 (RSS) - If treatment is provided right at the initial stage, one can survive anthrax infection, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Prevention Division of the Health Ministry.

"Anthrax is found mostly in sheep, hill goats, dogs, cats and wild animals and these animals infect human beings", says Director of the Division Dr. Mahendra Bahadur Bista.

Anthrax, which was widespread in Southern Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries affected l00 people world-wide in 1958. Two thousand cases were found at Midanpur of Mysore in 1999 and it has claimed some lives recently also.

Anthrax germs enter the human body through respiration or any skin injury and infection could prove fatal if not treated in time. Anthrax is of three types and can infect the skin, the respiratory system and the stomach.

After the germs enter the human body from contaminated raw meat, wool, skin or hair through the skin, injuries or respiration, the person suffers from fever, pus accumulates in the skin and tissues get swollen. Symptoms like that of cold and cough appear, it becomes difficult to breath, and there is vomiting, stomach pain, blood vomiting, thorax pain, traces of blood in excreta, neck pain and difficulty in swallowing.

Animals in Nepal are vaccinated against the disease, and the vaccines are available. People working in animal husbandry, at laboratories and at wool and leather industries are vulnerable and are vaccinated. Though the risk of natural infection is low, there have been anthrax cases all around the world. "It has become necessary for Nepal also to take preventive measures", according to Dr. Bista.

"Against the background of anthrax spores being misused as a biological weapon through letters in the mail and considering the possibility of this happening in Nepal also, HMG has already issued circulars on treatment and for publicity. But nowhere in Nepal has an anthrax case been seen", he said.

The disease is completely curable if treatment in time and drugs are available. Therefore there is no need for apprehension, it is learnt.

Music personalities felicitated

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 – Young and gifted artist, Yam Baral has come up with yet another music album - Bhet which was released in the capital today.

‘Maan’, his previous album, has been awarded with the Music Nepal Award for the year and Baral portrays Bhet in a different way than his other releases. His album is a compilation of works of various other artistes in that they have contributed lyrics and music in the album where Yam Baral has added his amazingly melodious voice.

Executive Director of Radio Nepal, Shailendra Raj Sharma and General Manager of Nepal Television, Durga Nath Sharma, jointly launched the cassette and the compact disc.Moonlight Records brought out the album.

Famous musicians like Natikaji, Shambhujit Baskota and Shakti Ballabh among others attended the programme. Also present on the occasion was Hemraj Gyawali, Chairman of the Kantipur Publications Pvt Ltd who congratulated Baral and conveyed his best wishes.

Speaking on the occasion, senior critic Dr. Taranath Sharma said that music is one of the greatest necessities of human beings. "The intensity of music should be able to make a person cry and also help in controlling social aberrations,"he said.

Moonlight Records felicitated lyricists Kali Prasad Risal, Ratna Samsher Thapa, Rajendra Thapa, Raman Ghimire, Bhupal Rai, Mukunda Raj Sharma, Dhurvaratna Tuladhar and Navraj Lamsal who have their songs in Bhet. Also honoured on the occasion were musicians Shakti Ballabh, Shila Bahadur Moktan, Nheu Bajracharya, Narayan Oli, Tika Bhandari and Alok Shree who have their contributions in the album.

Govt firm to rebuild Maya Devi temple

KATHMANDU, Nov. 6 (RSS) - Somdecha Fra Sangharaja Bhikchhu Gyaneshwar along with his disciples took part in the Kathin Daan and presented Chiwar (attire of the monks) and other commodities to Bhikchhu Sangh amid a function held at Nagar Mandap Sri Kirti Vihar yesterday.

Pramuan Ruchana Seree, deputy leader of the Thai rank Thai party and advisor of the Prime Minister of Thailand presented ‘Chiwar’ and other commodities worth one million bhat to Bhikchhu Sangh on behalf of the Thai Prime Minister.

The Thai citizens who participated in the function donated Rs.518,600 to the Nagar Mandap Sri Kirti Vihar and Sri Kirti Boudha Sangh for the preservation of Nepalese culture and tradition and propagation of Buddhism.

Addressing the function, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur KC. said His Majesty’s Government is making efforts to re-build the historic Maya Devi temple at the Lumbini, birth place of Lord Buddha.

Minister KC called on the international communities to leave aside the dispute over the construction of Maya Devi temple and to extend cooperation for this purpose.

All the Buddhists across the globe should meet at least once a year at Lumbini on the occasion of "Buddha Jayanti" like the Muslim community who throng Makka and Medina to pay homage.

Head of Nagar Mandap Sri Kirti Vihar Bhikcchhu Sudarshan thanked the organisers and all the participants for making the event a grand success.

Local efforts vital for public health

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - The locals of Kathmandu city should be more cooperative with local bodies and local social organisations to keep the area clean and managed, said stakeholders today.

Prof David Waltner-Towes of University of Guelph, Canada said the locals of KMC Ward No 19 and 20 have done a great job in the past several years towards managing solid waste and creating awareness among the locals on health and sanitation sectors.

"I do appreciate what the locals and the social organisations have done for public health," he said.

Dr DD Joshi, the chairman of Nepal Zoonosese and Food Hygiene Research Centre (NZFHRC), said the public claim that sweepers do not work sincerely and the sweepers blame the public for throwing domestic waste unsystematically. "The lack of coordination between the local bodies and the public results in unsystematic management of garbage in the city threatening public health," he said.

Mukta Singh Lama of Social Action for Grassroots Organisation (SAGUN) presented the progress report of its survey and findings it made in the past two years of Ward No 19 and 20. He said that the findings would be used to set future programmes.

Artist Dangol bags first prize

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - In the Second Eastern Region Art competition held in Kolkata, India, Sarita Dangol has won the first prize among the sixty- three competitors who were selected for the competition. Among six hundred candidates who applied for the contest, Dangol was the only Nepali artist selected for the competition.

"The success has given encouragement to all Nepali artists and I can assure that our artists can compete internationally," says Dangol. Organised by Camlin Art Foundation, artist Dangol won trophy along with a purse of rupees forty thousand Indian currency.

Twenty-seven years old Dangol in her paintings has tried to express the feelings of women from the pictures of dry trees. "I have tried to show slavery, injustice, problems and inequality done to women from barren trees," Dangol says.

And the trees with leaves show happiness. According to her, trees are the source of peace and happiness. It is clear from her paintings that she is highly influenced by nature, which is portrayed in her paintings. The paintings that have been selected for the competition are on display in India from November 1-6.

Women empowerment for peace emphasized

KATHMANDU, Nov 6 (PR) - The National Federation of UNESCO Association of Nepal organised a seminar on "Women Empowerment for Peace" here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Damber Bir Thapa, President of National Federation of UNESCO of Nepal said that the world is facing the terror attacks and peace is the only way to calm down all the people. " Even Nepal is passing through this problem and we can only face the situation through peace, "he added.

Angur Baba Joshi said, "Peace is an integral part of human life," adding " It has always been necessary from the beginning of human life."

She said, " The Veda and history state that women have a great contribution towards maintaining peace inside home, community and the state."

Laxmi Keshari Maharjan, Head of the Department of Home Science at Padma Kanya Campus said that at the moment when peace is very important, women should work hand in hand with men to promote peace in the country.

"The UNESCO Peace Week" started on Sunday with the theme "Promoting Peace Through Women’s Empowerment" and will end on November 9.

Various speakers and personalities shed light on the importance of women’s role in promoting peace in the country.