Ways to control malaria discussed

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28: A board meeting to update all partners in malaria control on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and Roll Back Malaria Initiative (RBMI) in Nepal was held today at the Department of Health Services training centre in Teku, today.

The objective of the meet was to strengthen malaria control programme through improved health system management and partnership, aimed at reducing the disease burden in the focal point districts. The participants in the meeting discussed the role and responsibilities of partners in malaria control and discussed and agreed on the Co-ordinated Country Proposal (CCP) for GFATM from Nepal on malaria titled "Malaria Control in Nepal Through Health Systems Strengthening and Partnership".

The meeting focused on the development of the RBMI Plan of Action, situation and achievements in malaria control as per the presentations made by Dr S.P Bastola of World Health Organisation. According to his presentation, it is observed that malaria is now emerging as a developmental and poverty issue, affecting mostly the poor and those who have little access to health care.

"The purpose of the Global Fund is to attract, manage and disburse resources through a new public-private foundation," said Dr Beni Bahadur Karki, chief of the planning division in the Ministry of Health. According to him, GFATM aims to make a sustainable and significant contribution to the reduction of infections, illness and death, thereby mitigating the impact caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the countries in need.

The foundation was established with a capital endowment of fifty thousand Swiss Francs and shall be funded from donations from nations, non-governmental organisations, private foundation individuals and the private sector.

Maitidevi temple renovation works take new turn

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The renovation of ancient temple of Maitidevi takes a new turn after the temple was found different than it appeared from the outside.

The Department of Archaeology (DOA) decided to renovate the temple some two months back but while pulling out modern tiles from the temple, the conservationists were amazed to find splendid wood structures with beautiful carvings around the temple.

"A meeting to be held soon with the participation of DOA director general, secretary of Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and technicians will finalize the new budget and the renovation works will follow immediately", said a DOA officer.

"The original shape inside was found different from our imagination," said Shyam Sundar Rajbanshi, the archaeology officer at DOA today.

The new phase of renovation, which will start soon, will cost around Rs 120,000 and includes the cost of buying new timber for pillars and beams.

The DOA first estimated to take out the clumsy tiles away and restore the temple’s traditional beauty by some minor outside changes exposing the brick wall. They started the work with a budget of Rs 478,000 some two months ago.

"But the money we allocated proved quite insufficient when we found that the temple was, in fact, made of wooden structure and the covering of the original structure with modern-looking tiles only decayed the timber structures inside," he said.

Rajbanshi said repeated renovation works, driven more by devotion than technical knowledge, left adverse impact on the ancient temple and its archaeological value.

"The Lichchavi period shrine of Maitidevi, a form of Bhagwati, has been renovated innumerable times. Most of them covered the original shape and structure of the temple in their attempt to decorate it in colourful ways like adding foreign tiles on the wall," said Rajbhanshi.

The temple was given a Nepali shape with open doors as early as in the 17th century during the reign of King Pratap Malla, when two big stone lions were also added to the temple.

The temple welcomes thousands of pilgrims, specially during the festival of Dashain, in October. The caretaker of the temple Rajya Krishna Pujari said that the construction would enhance the temple’s significance.

But he also said that the delay in renovation works has been a trouble for the locals from security viewpoint.

"As one of the walls has been pulled down now, it is insecure. The local residents come and guard throughout the nights. The renovation should be completed as soon as possible," said Pujari.

Biomass the chief source of energy in country

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28: Ninety percent of energy requirements in Nepal are met from biomass resources including dung while hydropower plants caters around one percent of the energy demand, a government official said Thursday.

Speaking at a one-day national seminar on Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development organised jointly by Socio-Economic Welfare Action for Women and Children in Nepal (SEWA Nepal) and United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Minister of Science and Technology Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said the government is vigorously pursuing activities related to promotion and financial assistance to renewable energy in rural Nepal.

The government of Nepal has adopted a policy to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy. The government claims that it will install around a 1000 solar system at homes every month and so far has installed around 100,000-biogas plants in the country.

" The government is also implementing energy efficiency activities in the industrial sector," Minister Balayar informed the large gathering consisting of foreign dignitaries and students.

In his message to SEWA Nepal, Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific said, "Efficient and sustainable production of energy is of paramount importance for the economic and social development of Nepal" adding "Despite having enormous hydropower potential, the Kingdom is not endowed with fossil fuels."

"If Nepal entirely relies on imports to meet it needs, Nepal’s energy efficiency could be deemed to be very vulnerable," Hak-Su warned in his message.

Dr Gyan Lal Shrestha, Executive Director of Green Energy Mission Nepal outlined a serious energy crisis in Nepal in the absence of a cheap and affordable alternative sources of energy. "Deforestation is rampant in Nepal due to the lack of alternative source of energy and because electricity is too expensive here," Shrestha, who authored Plant Oil Energy in Nepal said suggesting a variety of measures to supplement fuel wood.

Assistant Resident Representative to UNDP B.R. Dhamala said the government has not been able to supply electricity to even the Terai region let alone the inaccessible and remote hilly districts of the country.

"We have more than 6000 rivers and streams flowing in Nepal but have not been able to tap them for the people," he said.

Lumin Kumar Shrestha and Dharma Raj Poudel, experts at the Centre

for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N), L.R. Tamang, General Secretary, Society of Electrical Engineers Nepal, Rajendra Bahadur Adhikari, President, Center for Renewable Energy (CRE), among others presented their papers on the occasion.

The participants formulated a draft- Kathmandu Resolution on Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development recommending the government to give priority to policies that promote sustainable energy production and consumption.

JICA grants assistance to NAWAB

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28 : Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) donated Braille 200 printer, computers and software worth millions of rupees to Nepal Association for Welfare of the Blind (NAWAB) on Wednesday.

JICA’s Resident Representative Eitaro Mitoma handed over the grant assistance worth five million rupees for NAWAB to Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyay at a handing over ceremony in the capital today. The grant assistance includes a Braille press, two computers, one inkjet printer, two sets of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS), one set of software and a networking device.

Eitaro Mitoma, resident representative of JICA, handing over the grant assistance to Upadhyay expressed hope that the grants would significantly help produce textbooks for the blind in Nepal, which has so far been published manually using a very outmoded machine taking many months.

"This would also play instrumental role in enhancing education and acquiring computer skills which will create job opportunities for the blind in Nepal," he said expressing JICA’s concern for education and welfare of the blind in Nepal.

"This machine is very sophisticated and expensive with sound system for those who cannot see," said Mitoma referring to the Braille press machine manufactured in Norway.

Minister Upadhyay, the chief guest during the function said that educating the blind has become a challenge before the country. However, he expressed hope that with the cooperation and friendship between the two countries, such a difficulty would be solved.

Officials from the Department of Education, Japanese government officials and officials from NAWAB were also present during the handing over ceremony.

Funds deposited for Maoists’ victims

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KATHMANDU, Feb 28 : Different organisations by issuing a press release has disclosed depositing of funds in the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund (PMRF) in order to provide relief to those killed and dismembered during the Maoist attacks.

According to a press release issued here today from the Agricultural Development Bank, it has decided to deposit the seven days and five days salary of Special and First Class Officers respectively in PMRF. Similarly, three days salary of Second Class Officer and Officer level, two days of Assistant Second Class Officer, and one day salary of other staff.

Meanwhile, another release issued here today from the Local Development Training Academy states that the Special Class Officer will provide 7 days salary. And five days salary of First Class Officer, three days salary of Second and Third Class Officer, two days salary of Assistant level and one day of low level officer.

And the release issued from the Remote Area Development Committee states that five days salary of Gazetted First Class, 3 days’ salary of Gazetted Third and Second Class, 2 days of Gazetted Assistant Officers and 1 day salary of lower level officers.

A blizzard brings hopes of greener pastures

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LAMGUNJ, Feb 28 : A blizzard that followed Wednesday night on the two mountains at Khudi VDC, to the northern belt of the district, has relieved the rural populace in this region. The people in this part of the district were living in fear of an impending famine, as the mountains lying therein saw no snow even after the end of January.

Snowfall in late February that hit the region, was rarely heard of or seen. And the latest weather development here has filled the people in the region with all hopes of greener pastures.

The rural populace in these VDCs depend on agriculture and the snow piled up on the high mountains during the winter season, feed the rivulets and the streams with water in the region. This water, in the dry season, helps the local farmers harness the land for agricultural purposes.

"I heard my grand father talking of a blizzard of this type in late February, but had no opportunity of seeing the blizzard myself before," said Krishna Rimal-71, at Chandisthan VDC, in a cheerful mood.

"We had already given up hopes that we shall be farming this year as the mountains were bared of snow. Today I ate a slightly heavier meal by looking at the snow, out of happiness," said Tuka Thapa - 52, a housewife at Banjhkhet, in the district.

Garbage, Pollution threatens rafting

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PARBAT/MYAGDI, Feb 28 : The pollution in Kali Gandaki river, which is actually a clean river, is increasing day by day, as people settled near the river have started disposing their garbage into the river everyday.

The garbage from Galeswor to Benibazar of Myagdi and Majhphant Village Development Committee (VDC), Kusma Bazar and Baglung Bazar of Parbat are directly thrown into this river. "We know its not good for the river," says Harikrishna Shrestha, the chairperson of Arthunge VDC based in the headquarters of Myagdi, "but we have no dumping site."

"The geographical structure has also caused this problem as the land slopes toward the river," says Loknath Regmi, chairperson of Society Development Association, "a master plan should be made to protect this river."

The river, described in Hindu myths as a holy place for meditation, is also famous for its religiously important black stones known as ‘Saligrams’. Hindu devotees gather on its banks in different places during various festivals, according to Loknath Acharya, chairperson of Parbat branch of the World Hindu Federation. "We Hindus believe that bathing in the river cleans away our sins" says Acharya, "the pollution developing in such a holy river is very hurtful." Acharya requested governmental and non-governmental organisations to work for the protection of this river.

The river is also used for rafting. "The growing pollution in this river will effect growing tourism in the area," says Tika Ram Bhusal, deputy chairperson of the District Development Committee of Parbat. "If we do not think about it now, Kali Gandaki will be another Bagmati’, he further added.

Hygiene of imported meat doubtful

By Binod Bhandari

MORANG, Feb 28 : The illegal import of fish and the meat of other animals is on the rise in Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis, via the Indo-Nepal porous border, and this is posing a serious threat on public health in general.

The health condition of animals, serving a carnivorous diet to the residents of the Sub-Metropolis is not examined before slaughtering.

"Imported fish and meat have dominated the market here as they are supplied illegally," said Mohomad Mustafa, the Chief of Animals in Quarantine. Animal quarantine is responsible for examining the healthy condition of he-goats and fish imported from India.

Most of the fish and animals about to be butchered in Biratnagar are supplied from India and pass through different entry points such as Ramgunj of Sunsari district and Rangeli Dinea of Morang.These animals very rarely get through the quarantine point.

Around 150 he-goats are slaughtered in the Sub-Metropolis daily, according to Tara Niraula, the Chief at Food Investigation department of the Sub-Metropolis whereas Musthafa says that only the health of 23 he-goats have been examined so far within the past six months.

"More than eighty percent of he-goats slaughtered daily are imported from India and their health conditions have not been examined," said Tara Niraula, Chief at Food Investigation Department at the Sub-Municipality.

The Sub-Metropolis has a strict provision of getting the health condition of animals examined before they are slaughtered, however, this has has yet to be seen in practice.

Bigger the better when it comes to number of children

By Binod Bhandary

MORANG, Feb 28 : Will you talk about family planning. Damn care. There are enough concessions and facilities for family planing but in vain, thanks to the locals of Hoklabari who are still come up to accept family planning in their life style.

A special programme launched by Hokalabari VDC two years ago, targeted to over 300 dalit families in the VDC has not been implemented as yet.

The programme is focused on reducing the population of dalits in the VDC by gearing the people towards family planning. With relevance to this, the VDC has been providing certain facilities for couples from the community who emerge with proof that they have adopted permanent measures of family planning after getting a few children.

As to the facilities laid by the ‘special programme’ of the VDC, couples undergoing family planning measures are excluded from all sorts of expenses incurred on VDC official works. These couples are also exempted from paying tax to the Land Revenue Office.

"Not a single family from the community has come to claim facilities provided by the VDC for the past two years," said Yogendra Basnet, Chairman of the VDC.

The programme forwarded by the VDC bears no importance for us as we have no land to pay revenue," says Baiju Musahar, a dalit at ward number-9 of the VDC, "Our life will be hard if we have fewer children." Many other dalits echo the same version of Baiju Mshahar.

Within the community, a prevailing trend is that many children mean a bigger source of income. Generally, a couple in the VDC rear six to seven children and the young children are sent to work as house keepers, to earn bread for the family.

The socially dominated and economically retarded community is lagging far behind in the sector of education. "Very few children from the community are enrolled in school, and those who do are highly irregular in attending classes," says Gayatri Prasad Niraula, the headmaster of Hokalawari Secondary School, the only school serving the whole VDC. Hokalawari VDC is the smallest of its type in the district, resided in by around two thousand families.