Long way to go for kidney transplant in country

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KATHMANDU, March 26: After much anticipation and promises, experts today said that kidney transplant in Nepal is still going to take more time in developing infrastructure and manpower.

The team of four experts from New Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) came to the capital on March 23 to assess the feasibility of kidney transplant in the country’s biggest government- run Bir Hospital.

Prof S N Mehta, Head of Department of Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Prof S K Tiwari, Head of Department of Nephrology and Prof N K Mehra, Head of Department of Transplant and Immunology were the three experts who had come from AIIMS. The team had come under the negotiation of Ministry of External Affairs, India and Minstry of Health, Nepal.

At a press conference held today, the team suggested the essential upgrading of the infrastructure required and said it needs to develop manpower critically.

"The hospital has all the basic infrastructure but needs a few more inputs to commence the transplant activity," Prof Mehta said.

The need to develop manpower has since long been the area of concern with most of the experts in the hospital as the hospital doesn’t have kidney surgeons, though they claim they are fully equipped otherwise.

Director of the hospital, Dr Manohar Lal Shrestha said that they would now focus on sending surgeons and medical personnel for training. The trainings will be conducted in AIIMS under these experts.

It was acknowledged that the transplant would begin only when Nepalese surgeons and medical personnels are trained to conduct the activity on their own without the help of Indian doctors. And with this, the transplant practically might take long, but doctors at the hospital weren’t able to give the duration exactly.

"But it is important for sustainability of the service and for the pride of the nation," said Prof Tiwari.

Available data shows that about 50 – 60 kidney patients go abroad annually, mainly to India, for kidney transplants. Bir Hospital alone gets about 154 kidney transplant cases every year.

Bisket chariot wheels being reconstructed

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BHAKTAPUR, March 26: Decade-old chariot wheels of God Bhairav, which were used during Bisket Jatra festival are under reconstruction. The chariot has both traditional and cultural importance because it heralds the coming of new year according to Nepali calendar.

The Bisket Jatra is a four-day festival celebrated four days ahead of Baishak 1(Bikram Sambat). Around seventeen craftsmen are busy in front of Nyatapola temple at Bhaktapur Durbar Square reconstructing the chariot wheels.

According to Krishna Hari Bhattarai, an official of the Guthi Sansthan at Bhaktapur, for the reconstruction of four wheels the Guthi has provided wood and about Rs 120,200 in cash.

The amount will be used for the reconstruction of wheels, windows, doors, toran and other parts of the three-storey chariot.

According to Laxmi Bhakta Shilakar, 65, who has been involved in constructing the chariots and khats (carriers) of gods and goddesses from the time of his forefathers, chariot-making is a very hard job and craftsmanship is needed for reconstruction works and all the parts have to be well-constructed.

For the nine-day festival every year thousands of rupees are spent. Last year around Rs 182,000 was spent for the work, said Narayan Bhakta Shrestha, the accountant of the Guthi. "This year all the four wheels are under reconstruction and the amount this year may double the expenses spent last year," he added.

Braille equipment for blind people

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KATHMANDU, March 26:The Rotary Club of Patan West handed over computer software and Braille equipment to the Nepal Association of the Blind (NAB) at a programme here today.

On the occasion , JAWS for windows and magnification software both designed for blind users were presented to the NAB. At the same function, two hundred slate sylus and white canes were also distributed to the NAB.

Speaking at the programme, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Sushila Swanr said, "The progress the NAB has made is praiseworthy," adding "Due to the commitment of many people in the organisation, it has been able to contribute to the blind." She also expressed the view that the association will gain greater success in the years to come.

Speaking on the occasion, the President of NAB, Nar Bahadur Limbu said, the association is also planning to hold programmes for the deaf and the blind apart from the current programme for the blind.

According to a WHO survey, the population of the blind in Nepal is around two hundred thousand out of whom around a thousand are literate and about two hundred have passed the SLC examinations.

"After taking this course, I believe that the blind can also learn computers. By using JAW for computers we will be able to use a computer like any normal person." said a student of NAB who took this course.

The NAB was formed to help the blind receive necessary trainings and education to lead a better life.The NAB currently has ten rehabilitation centres in two districts,viz, Chitwan and Dang including three other branches in Tehrathum, Siraha and Dhanusha. Around eighty blind people have been given jobs in teaching profession and some are working in factories through the support of this association.

The NAB is a non-governmental, non-profit making and non-political organisation working for the welfare of the Blind and Partially-Sighted (BPS) persons. It was established in 1993 and has been working ever since for the cause of BPS persons in the country.

The association has been launching programmes like scholarships, vocational training, blindness prevention and control, women empowerment, leadership developing training, efficiency upgrading training in the concerned field and various awareness programmes.

The goal of NAB is to provide services for the major portion of the BPS persons through rehabilitation programmes. A nine-month course in computer education was jointly organised recently by NAB and USC Canada for the blind.

VDC level co-operatives handed over

RSS

LALITPUR, March 26:Five VDC level cooperatives belonging to rural women groups have been handed over to Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel amid a function organised by the Lalitpur District Women Development Section here today.

The Cooperatives with 322 members include Saraswoti Women Development Cooperatives, Chapagoan, Bishankhu Narayan Multi-Purpose Women Development Cooperatives, Bishankhu Narayan, Dhaneshwar Women Development Cooperatives, Badikhel, Sri Namuna Women Development Cooperatives, Godawari and Sri Nari Utthan Women Development Cooperatives, Jharuwarasi.

The women cooperatives have been set up and run to empower women and attain sustainable development as per its motto of being self-reliant.

On the occasion, Minister Kharel stressed the need for the backward women communities to make their access to economic, social and political fronts so as to attain all-round development of the women.

"In view of the praiseworthy works being carried out by cooperatives run with the initiative of rural women at a time when cooperative movement is gaining momentum throughout the country, the government will extend all possible cooperation in their endeavour", he added.

Nepali Congress Lalitpur district president Sagar Shumsher Rana said the cooperative movement is a must to involve women in development works of the country.

Lalitpur DDC Chairman Madhav Poudel disclosed that Lalitpur District Council had released Rs. 9,214,000 for women welfare schemes.

Chief of Women Development Department Bishwo Prakash Pundit, Women Development Officer Kamala Sharma, Rashmi Karmacharya and Bhaskar Devkota of Women Micro-Credit Programme and Chairman of Dhaneshwar Cooperatives Uma Acharya also expressed their views.

Little eve-teasers play ‘unholy’ Holi

If there are the list of worst things in the life of the pretty young Kathmandu girls, the "unholy" acts committed during the Holi Season might come on the top. And, if there is spare time after the school and homework, from small kids to youngsters in the city either go straight up to the terrace or find the nearest corner in the street, with some balloons and bucket of water in their hands. Now starts their duty, as they start looking out for beautiful girls to pass by. And, the irritating teenagers spend the day flirting and misbehaving.

Many Kathmandu girls stop going to college or office one week in advance of the Holi festival, the festival of colours, fearing the balloon plus water attacks. And by this time, many girls might have fallen victim to the kids’ attacks in advance of this year’s Holi festival that falls on Thursday.

It is the festival that turns all one-time loving youngster sadists with full-blown balloons aiming at the girls whom they are never acquainted with.

But until recently, the story has taken a twist and an increasing number of girls are trying to
prove that water-filled balloon-throwing is not a male
monopoly against the girls and beautifully dressed-up women, but heeding to the unwritten tradition, the female kids also enjoy hurling the water-filled balloons, commonly known as lolaas, targeting the females. The children representing the evil forces seem to be on the rampage, against girls – be they adolescents, teenagers or grown-ups.

The girls should hide their new clothes throughout the pre-Holi week or be splashed with colour powders and the water-filled balloons.

Some of the parents even upon spotting their children peeping at some girls outside caution them to "play" cautiously. But, one can’t simply imagine what they would do when some other’s kids do the same to them or to their children. Similar is the story of the city cops. The cops stationed in the city corners to provide security to the public remain mere mute spectators and the irritating kids go on harassing the poor girls.

The kids and the youngsters, under the careful instructions of "bigger brats", are seen trying to excel in lolaa-throwing after a series of trials and errors. Smearing the pre-Holi enthusiasm and aura of romance, the children go on unholy rampage.

When the rampage is on the fully blown up stage, the poor girls have nothing to do but either to escape the lolaas or flee the scene. But what could they do next when another group of kids create panic? Nothing, but to face the things as it come. When the poor girls approach home, it could be just a show for the onlookers and her parents would be surprised to get a "new member" in their home.

During the pre-Holi week, the city girls who literally live a veritable nightmare explore innovative ideas to be protected from the panic. And, one of the girls says raincoat would be fine to wear in even if the scorching sun is straight up.

But on the exact day of Holi, mothers send their children out on the streets to indulge in all the drenching and smearing of colour.

Oli urges rebels to lay down arms

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POKHARA, March 26:Senior leader of the main opposition party CPN-UML, Khadga Prasad Oli, on Tuesday urged Maoist rebels to resume peace talks with the government by laying down their arms.

Oli also said that the government should also bestow general amnesty to the rebels for their crimes committed in the past. The outlawed Maoists had broken the four months old mutual cease-fire declared in late July last year when Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba came to power.

"The rebels should return to dialogue," he said, "Maoists are still strong enough to cause more destruction to the country." The government should give pardon to the rebel outfits keeping in mind further losses to the nation, he added. He was addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Nepal Journalists’ Federation of Kaski.

Leader Oli said that efforts for peace talks could be initiated from inside even in the middle of the army mobilisation.

Replying to a query, Oli said that the Prime Minister couldn’t publicly say he is ready
for the dialogue at a time when the soldiers are in all-out offensive against the insurgents. "The Prime Minister cannot say so in order to maintain morale of the army men fighting against the rebels," he said.

He also said that there was no possibility that the local elections could be held in such an adverse political situation. He added that it was better to extend the term of the elected representatives for a period of one more year until the situation improved.

Damauli people drawn towards yoga practice

By Prakash Adhikari

DAMAULI, March 26:The residents at Vyas municipality, Damauli, headquarters of Tanahun district are largely drawn to ‘Yoga’ practice, a natural technique introduced by ancient sages in the Indian sub-continent known for maintaining sound mental and body health.

For the past fifteen days, people from all walks of life in the municipality have been practising Yoga at the municipality-covered hall. The Yoga practice lasts for three to four hours every morning, says Badri Nath Ghimire, a local attending Yoga classes.

"Yoga basically means the unison of five elements composed in the human body. If the five elements are not in harmony with each other, then the human body is inflicted with diseases," says Darwesa Baba Awadhut, who has been conducting Yoga here.

According to him, regular practice of Yoga keeps the various regulatory systems of the body in perfect condition and strengthens resistance power of the body against diseases.

As Yoga is gaining popularity among the people here, it has become an early morning routine mostly for those who stay undercover in bed till late morning and those suffering from blood pressure and obese.

"Practising Yoga has improved my blood pressure which was not brought to normalcy even after consuming various types of medicines," said Gopal Krishna Poudel, the Chief Education Officer of Tanahun district.

"I feel relieved from mental tensions after attending Yoga," is the expression of a student, Bikash Adhikari, a regular Yoga goer.

Shedding light on the importance of Yoga, Darwes Baba says that Yoga plays a vital role in the human life cycle as it keeps the human heart strong and gives people practising the art of yoga renewed feelings of energy.

Maoists warn against sitting in SLC exams

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SINDHULI, March 26:While the security personnel have moved to the district headquarters owing to security concerns, the outlawed Maoists are playing spoilsport with the future of over two thousand students in the villages of the districts, threatening them not to risk attending the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination that is slated on April 2 this year, complain the guardians here.

The Maoists have also called for nationwide general strike for five days starting from the day when the SLC examination begins. "The Maoists have warned not to head to the headquarters for SLC examination saying that the period of examination is to witness a great havoc," said a guardian in the district requesting anonymity.

However, the guardians of the students are furious with the threat of the Maoists warning them not to move towards the district headquarters where the examination centres located. "I am determined to let my daughter sit in the examination even if that means the cost of my life," said an angry guardian at Ratan Chura VDC of the district. It is learnt the Maoist rebels are threatening the guardians visiting their houses.

However, the District Security Committee in the district has assured the guardians of the SLC students not to worry over the issue as all the security measures are ensured for the peaceful operation of the examination.

Girl rescued from being trafficked

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BHAIRAHAWA, March 26: A young girl (name not disclosed), at Jurepani VDC-9 of Jhapa district, is now under the
care of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Maiti Nepal at Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district after being rescued from the airport in New Delhi, said concerned sources here.

A broker had sent the girl to Riyadh, Capital City of Saudi Arabia, guaranteeing her a handsome job for a fee of Indian Currency worth Rupees 45,000. However, she was asked to do other work not compatible to her status and as per agreed earlier with the broker in Nepal.

In refusing to carry out the orders of her master, she was beaten up on the head and other parts of her body. "As I declined to follow the orders of my master, they severely beat me on the head and now I have lost my mental strength," she said.

Maiti Nepal, Bhairahawa, has taken her in after she was handed over by the Royal Nepalese Embassy on March 22. It was earlier known that the Nepali Mitra Manch, a forum of Nepali people staying in India, rescued the victim from the Delhi airport.

As alleged by the victim, a woman named Fulmaya Tamang of Kathmandu sent her to Riyadh with another male associate.