Tilganga Hospital poised to export lens to developed world

By Perina Pathak & Manish Gautam

KATHMANDU, March 7 ; A high level delegation from Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF), Australia, has entered into an agreement with Tilganga Eye Centre to export Intraocular Lens (IOL) to developed countries. IOL is used for the cataract eye surgery.

Prior to this, the Centre had been exporting IOLs to over 50 countries world-wide. Currently, the lenses are being exported to the developing countries of Latin America, South Asia, South East Asia, South Africa and Africa.

Dr. Sanduk Ruit, Medical Director of the IEC, who is currently in the capital, told The Kathmandu Post: "Though the IOL was exported to various developing countries, this new agreement has opened the door for us to export the lens to other developed countries, as well. Which is a good opportunity for us."

Expressing his happiness Dr. Riut, who is also known as a ‘Henry Ford of Eye Care’, said that experts from other countries were highly impressed with the product of the Tilganga hospital. The IOL produced in Nepal, he said, has been regarded as world-class.

An IOL produced in Tilganga costs only Rs 350 (3.75$); whereas the same lens cost four time higher in Australia — an IOL there is sold from Rs 12,000 (150$) or more, according to experts.

"But from now onwards, the Tilganga needs to increase its production," said Lynskey, who just returned from a trekking expedition in the Himalaya. "This is a good opportunity for the centre to advance its service and increase the production."

The twenty-five delegates (each from the member country of the FHF) have congregated here in the capital to share their experiences with the doctors of Tilganga. The Tilganga is also considered as the most advanced eye care centre among various eye-care centres around the world that are funded by the FHF.

"Tilganga has developed good management in eye care, which is replicable in various countries and can lean a lot from here," said Mike Lynskey, Chief Executive of the Fred Hollows Foundation, who was for a week visit at Tilganga.

This centre has been an example in providing both qualitative and quantitative service to all the eye patients, said Lynskey. "And this centre is a leading example to provide high value, quality and comprehensive eye related disease."

Expressing his dissatisfaction over the slow development of eye centre in other country, Lynskey said, "Tilganga has progressed a lot because it has spend a lot of time and effort for the development."

Nigel Milan, the FHF chairman, said that among all the member countries of the foundation, Tilganga has become an example "for which Dr. Ruit’s dedication and devotion is unforgettable, (and there are) impressive medical facilities than in other parts of the world."

In recent times, the FHF has been providing funds to different organisations in 29 countries, including Australia, but mostly the developing countries.

It is estimated that about 45 million people world wide are currently blind and 135 million people with low vision comprising total of 180 million people with some degree of visual impairment. Whereas people living in developing countries are ten times more likely to become blind comparing to developed country.

And in Nepal it is estimated that 0.84 percent of the population has been found to be blind, and cataracts accounted for two thirds of blindness.

So to provide high-quality, affordable and ophthalmic facility to the people Tilganga Eye Centre was established in 1994. And within its ten years service the Centre has been producing around 150,000 IOL every year.

Tilganga was opened with a view to ensure prevention and pre-treatment of curable blindness. Other than the IOL laboratory, Tilganga also boasts an eye bank and surgi-centre, which provide both treatment and surgical training. Tilganga has also been providing various free treatments by organising Out Reach Micro-Surgery Eye Clinic (eye camps) in various remote areas.

CIAA exonerates Gupta, Khadka

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has given clean cheat to former Ministers Khum Bahadur Khadka and Jaya Prakash Gupta on the case of the controversial Rapti Bridge construction and cellular mobile phone import deals respectively.

A CIAA statement issued here today said that though former Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Khum Bahadur Khadka had made an arbitrary decision while nominating contractors for Rapti Bridge construction and misused his power, there is no need of further action against him as he is not in the post currently.

The CIAA, however, stated that another case filed against Khadka for allegedly amassing huge amount of assets is still under investigation.

Similarly former Information and Communications Minister Gupta was given a clean cheat by CIAA on the plea that the policy regarding import of mobile phones had not been clearly defined.

"The ministry has already been asked by CIAA to initiate steps for the import of the mobile phones strictly as per the policy so there is no need of further investigation of Gupta on the mobile phone import deal," the CIAA statement said.

CIAA however said that the case filed against Gupta for amassing huge amount of asset is still under CIAA’s investigation.

CIAA, a constitutional anti-graft watch dog has suggested the government to privatize the National Construction Company of Nepal (NCCN) to avert further irregularities as its functions could not be transparent and it involved in sub-contracting of works.

A press statement issued by CIAA said that Commission reached at the decision following the investigation upon impropriety committed in the past.

The Commission has also recommended to make the economic administration in NCCN transparent through statutory changes and timely changes in its policy.

No intention to defame Gautam: Nepal

KATHMANDU, March 7 (PR)- Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) said today that the party has no intention to defame party leader Bamdev Gautam.

Talking to The Kathmandu Post late night Friday, general secretary Nepal said that the interrogation of the party’s disciplinary committee on Gautam was a normal procedure and was not aimed at defaming a top-level party leader.

"What Gautam had expressed was the matter of party’s internal debate and should not have spelt it out in public forums," said Nepal. "And it is not an issue of prolonging debate as it has been already settled."

"Gautam himself is a member of the standing committee which showed concerns about his statement," Nepal said.

Nepal’s comment came today after a sort of verbal war started in the party after party leader Gautam was interrogated by party disciplinary committee two days back for what the committee said was dubious statement coming from Gautam in support of the Maoist demands for a round table conference, an interim government and an election to a constituent assembly.

Gautam had commented the party’s action against him as "motivated to defame him". The central level committees of the party have stronghold of general secretary Nepal.

Maoists should not betray: Deuba

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GULARIYA, Bardiya, March 7 : Former prime minister and president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba today reiterated that his party would continue to protest against the king’s move until the elected prime minister was re-instated.

He said that the constituent assembly was not necessary if the Maoists accept the constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy.

Addressing a public meeting after unveiling a statue of democratic leader Radha Krishna Tharu, he said the Maoists should express their full commitment not to go back to the jungle and indulge in violence and extortion. He called on both sides to be serious about the proposed peace talks to ensure lasting peace in the country.

"If the Maoists betray even this time, that will be the end of it and the country will have to pay a heavy price," said Deuba, who has been to the mid-and far-western regions to campaign against the royal take over. The former prime minister also suggested that each of the former Kamaiya families should be given at least five katthas of land for their survival.

New NEA power directive on anvil

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : A new directive aimed at encouraging the participation of communities in the generation and supply of electricity is in the offing. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has already drafted the directive that is likely to be given a final shape soon.

NEA officials, at a press meet today, said the directive that will come into enforcement in a matter of weeks will encourage and promote the formation of Community Users Groups (CUGs) at local levels.

The users groups, similar to those already in operation in the areas of irrigation and water management, will be responsible for distribution of electricity in their respective communities.

"A draft of the Community Electricity Distribution Directive-2059 has already been prepared. A final round of discussion with stakeholders has been planned for next week, following which the draft will be finalised," said Janak Lal Karmacharya, the NEA chief.

The drafting of the directive comes in line with the vision to expand rural electrification with the help of local initiatives. Officials said that the directive will promote local participation in the country’s development process.

Officials claimed that once the directive comes into enforcement, local masses on one hand will get good employment opportunities, while on the other their involvement in electricity distribution will promote a sense of local ownership.

In addition, local involvement is also expected to help in the containment of non-technical losses and reduction in operation and maintenance hassles. The latest initiative is also anticipated to draw in local investment in micro-hydro power projects. As such, the locals may even involve in electricity generation.

Above all, officials are of view that if communities involve in electricity generation, then that will greatly help in bringing down the production costs. "That may make electricity cheaper and more affordable," said Karmacharya. Electricity price in Nepal is one of the highest in the world.

Karmacharya added that the directive contains certain provisions that seek to encourage the involvement of communities. Among them include a 10 percent share to CUGs from arrears they collect from defaulters. Similary, the CUGs will get a 25 percent share from the collection of defaulted amounts from blacklisted consumers.

Legal eagles debate ways out of crisis

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : The second day of the Ninth Convention of All Nepal Lawyers Association (ANLA) held here witnessed lawyers take part in an extensive discussion over the issues of constituent assembly and constitutional amendment, both high-voltage topics during the present situation.

However, the lawyers looked conspicuously divided over the issues. While some supported a constituent assembly and therefore the formation of a new constitution, others argued that amendments to the present Constitution would be appropriate.

"Only after the dismissal of the present constitution, can there be a constituent assembly," said advocate Sher Bahadur K C. He also said that if a constituent assembly was to be held, the country would plunge into a worse state. "It is the responsibility of the lawyers to bring the derailed constitution back on track," added K C.

Advocate Shyam Ji Pradhan, however, said that for successful peace talks, it was vital for a constituent assembly. "The current peace (cease-fire) has come from a revolution and in order to keep it this way, there needs to be a constituent assembly."

Jumla is coming to life, yet facing serious problems to tackle

By Nitya Nanda Timsina

JUMLA, March 7 : Khalanga, the worst hit district headquarters is experiencing its first month of relative peace after the declaration of cease-fire between the government and the Maoists. The town is slowly coming to the life, loud music is now playing and people are moving around.

"People were terrified to death, but things have changed recently," said Neema Tshering Lama, who runs a small grocery. He hoped his business would pick up again.

People are hopeful that the cease-fire will turn into the lasting peace. The recent agreement between the regional Maoist leader and chief district officer along with representatives of other political parties, and human rights activists has given a sigh of relief to all.

However, this mountainous district has yet many problems to tackle. The dead bodies are still languishing in nearby riverbed, people who have taken shelter in the army barracks are still terrified, and the destroyed infrastructure and office buildings require huge resources.

The Tila River near Khalanga is unsuccessful to sweep away the partly buried dead bodies of the Maoists some are even seen floating. The tattered pieces of the combat dress of the rebels are still seen around. Not to talk about the scattered human bones in the nooks and corners of the small town.

"I shall never forget that horrible night," recalls a policeman, who narrowly survived the Maoists’ attack in the district headquarters some four months ago.

The Chief District Officer, Krishna Shyam Budhathoki was unaware of those languished bodies until the locals complained about the foul smell and water quality. "We are going to collect the remains and cremate them on Saturday," said Budhathoki.

After the horrible attack on the district headquarters hundreds of people left their homes and took shelter in the army barracks. "These displaced people are also posing a big problem. They are not leaving due to threat," said the CDO.

"We won’t have food to eat even if we leave the barracks," said a victim, Gauri Lal Neupane. The displaced people sought for full guarantee of their life before they leave the barracks.

The district administration office is soon providing the displaced people with identity and rations cards, and start a process to rehabilitate them.

In Jumla, all but 16 government offices were destroyed irreparably, whence about 440 people lost their life. "The task of rebuilding after last year’s violence will cost millions of rupees," said CDO Budhathoki.

Thanks to the agreement reached on Wednesday between the Maoists, government, political parties and civic society, the situation looks promising in the district. It was the first agreement of its kind in district level after the cease-fire was announced.

The discussions arrived at eight-point code of conduct, in which both the CDO and the Maoists agreed to curtail the activities that provoke each other. Naresh Bhandary, co-ordinator of the Nepal National Intellectual Organisation of Bheri and Karnali of Maoists took part in the meeting.

Bhandary agreed not to come to the district headquarters with arms but he also asked the government not to send the army with arms to the areas controlled by the former. He also assured that the Maoists would not resort to extortion and physical abuses and agreed to support rehabilitation of the displaced people in the villages. He pledged that his party would take action on its cadres if they continue with extortion and breach the code of conduct that is detrimental to peace process in the centre.

CDO Budhathoki said he had received a circular from the centre that the Maoists must not comment on two things: constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy.

Locals were furious about the attack in Khalanga. One of them even asked Bhandary to justify the attack and death of innocent people.

The Maoists representative, Bhandary, while agreeing to the code of conduct for the districts said that schools would no more be used as political playground-but only for education.

Bhandary’s comment on schools was hailed by Danish education advisor, Karsten Jensen, who was visiting the area with Gert Meinecke, Charge’ d’Aaffairs at the Royal Danish Embassy.

Jordan new El Dorado for Nepali women job aspirants

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : With the lifting of ban on women visiting Gulf countries last month, the government is working hard to make Jordan a lucrative job market for hundreds of aspiring Nepalis, a cabinet minister said here today.

"We are receiving increasing demands for Nepalis, especially women for jobs in Jordan. We are carrying out a study on the issue," Kamal Chaulagain, Minister for Labour and Transport Management told The Kathmandu Post.

He added that the government has taken keen interest after receiving information that Jordan will be much safer for women looking for employment abroad.

"We are carrying out studies on the issue before finally letting Nepalis to go to Jordan for jobs," the minister said while addressing a workshop on ‘Role of the Media in Empowering Migrant Women Workers of Nepal’, organised by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Department of Labour and Employment Promotion and SAMANATA, an institute for social and gender equality.

A UNIFEM official said that Jordan’s parliament had endorsed to allow Nepalis to visit the country for employment last December.

Similarly, an emissary from Nepal is visiting Malaysia to finalise the set up of a Nepal embassy in Malaysia. This was prompted due to the growing numbers of Nepalis going to Malaysia for jobs in recent years.

In a bid to explore new job markets abroad, Nepal is sending a team of experts to the United States to study job markets, the minister said, adding that the Nepal can send many to the US if the Nepalis government takes responsibility of return after working in the US.

Likewise, the government is going to make arrangements for pre-departure orientations for people going abroad for jobs in a bid to send skilled manpower from Nepal.

With mounting internal conflict in the country and unemployment, thousands of Nepalis are leaving Nepal for abroad, mostly Gulf countries, bringing a large amount of foreign currencies. According to the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion, 222,173 Nepalis left Nepal for employment in 2002.

With the Nepali garment industries and tourism industries, two major dollar fetching industries in the country, receiving a major setback in the past few years, Nepal is highly dependent on foreign employment to garner foreign currencies. The International Monetary Fund estimation, 2002, put foreign remittances to Nepal at about Rs 40.7 billion in 2002. Though the contribution of women to this figure is not known, another data in 2000 says that the contribution was 11 per cent of the total foreign remittance to Nepal in the fiscal year 1996-1997.

Meanwhile, a research on migrant Nepali women workers carried out recently by SAMANATA with support from UNIFEM, made public today, has shown migrant Nepalis women workers vulnerable to situations of risks because of a number of factors ranging from government policies to the availability of opportunities, the social and gender roles of women and their access to information and services.

They face verbal and physical abuse, threat and mental harassment by employers, the report says. Sometimes they are made to suffer as the employers impound passports and subject them to long, irregular and arduous working hours, the report says.

The report has suggested the government to concentrate on making the migration of women workers more accessible, safer and more qualitative, recognising the role of media in this regard.

NC leaders close ranks against rebels

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DOLAKHA, March 7 : The Nepali Congress (NC) Central Working Committee (CWC) member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat has accused the Maoists of rooting for the election to the constituent assembly with a view to justify the violent campaign perpetrated by them since the last seven years.

Dr Mahat said this while addressing the district level convention of the All Nepal Peasants’ Association (ANPA) on Friday.

"Since the Maoists have avowedly given up the demand for a republican set up, there is hardly any point to go for elections to the constituent assembly," Dr Mahat said, adding that there was no alternative to the constitution drawn up in 1990.

He reiterated the view that if the government yields to their demand to go for a constituent assembly, then the nation will have to agree with what they have been doing since the last seven years. He however said that even the NC leaders were rooting for elections to the constituent assembly.

Dr Mahat also said that the other members of the party’s apex body were however not in favour of going for elections to the constituent assembly. He also raised a query that since amendment and constituent assembly mean more or less the same thing there was no need to go for the latter.

Moreover, Dr Mahat also said that since the demand concerning round table conference was still an abstract concept, no one should join the demand for it. He also added that no one except parliament has the mandate to call a round table conference. "Hence the NC demand for revival of the parliament."

He also pointed out at the instances of intimidation in the countryside despite cease-fire announced by the Maoists and the government. "Violence will remain in place as long as rebels are not de-commissioned."

Speaking at the same function, another NC leader Bhim Bahadur Tamang said, "We have only one request to the king: Our mouths should not be closed." Another leader of the party, Jagannath Paudel said that if the Maoists do not come to the talks, even the UN would brand them as terrorists.

Student bodies on agitation mode for union polls

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : Seven major student organisations today decided to launch a joint campaign to create pressure on the Tribhuvan University administration to hold the postponed Free Student’s Union (FSU) elections on a rescheduled date.

A meeting held in the capital under the initiatives of the Maoist student wing, All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) concluded that elections for FSU are inevitable to safeguard the rights of the students. "FSU elections on time is a must, as the institution is an outcome of massive sacrifice of the students," a joint press statement issued here said.

The University had postponed the elections originally scheduled for February 28 for an indefinite period after ANNISU (R) warned of strong actions if the elections were not postponed. Following this TU had rescheduled the elections for April 23.

The meeting, which was attended by student wings of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, People’s Front Nepal, Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party and some others, also urged the Maoists and the government to create an atmosphere of talks and move forward while preserving the achievements of 1990 movement.

They also decided to join hands to move forward on the basis of a 54-point concept agreed upon by six major student organisations in the past. We have agreed to move forward the issues of consensus through frequent meetings in the future, the statement said.

South Asian cancer specialists stress preventive steps

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KATHMANDU, March 7 : It is estimated that about nine million people are stricken with cancer throughout the world, of which about five million die every year. In Nepal alone it is estimated that about 50,000 people are living with cancer.

Speaking at the second SAARC Conference on Clinical Oncology, Dr Dhurba Prasad Sharma, chairman of B P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital said that high rate of illiteracy, poverty, lack of awareness, limited access to health care facilities, improper diagnosis and treatment are the main causes of high mortality rate witnessed in developing countries. Sharma is also the country representative of International Union Against Cancer (UICC).

The two-day conference held with the theme ‘Oncological Challenges in Developing Countries’ mainly concentrated on ways of prevention rather than focusing on the curative methods, which is very expensive and out of reach of the poor living in developing countries.

The conference was organised by SAARC Federation of Oncologists- Nepal (SFO-N) in collaboration with B P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Nepal Oncological Society, Department of Radiotherapy of Bir Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Care Centre, Kathmandu Hospital, Oncology Club of Dhaka and Indian Co-operative Oncology Network.

Inaugurating the conference Prof Dr Upendra P Devkota, Minister for Health, Science and Technology said that the government has issued a memo for banning all tobacco related advertisements, which is the main cause for oral cancer.

Highlighting the government’s commitment for prevention of cancer Dr Devkota said that primary health care per head in Nepal is only $ 36 per year, hence for the safeguarding the health of people, it is also campaigning against alcohol products.

"The budget allocated for health care is very meagre," said Anjani Kumar Sharma, Chairman of SAARC Federation of Oncologists -Nepal. Further suggesting the government Sharma said that the government can raise money by adding more taxes on tobacco products.

Prof S H Advani, country representative of India said, "The biological and social standard of all South Asian countries are common to each other, so we need to join hands together for the common problem knowing the biological problem of the disease." Therefore a guideline has to be prepared from this conference to provide standard and suitable treatment for the patients, he added.

Over 250 specialists from 16 countries including non-SAARC nations like Lithuania, United States of America, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Indonesia, Belgium, Japan, Korea and Saudi Arabia have congregated here in the capital to participate in the two-day conference.