National Immunisation Day
Threatened By Use Of Live Polio Viruses

By Balaram Chaulagain

AS A part of the global effort to wipe-out the polio from Earth by the year 2005. Nepal launched the 1st round of five-year anti polio drive today 9th Dec. 2000. The four National Immunisation Days (NIDs) conducted in the last years were completely successful. The generosity of WHO, UNICEF, CDC Altanta, Rotary International, USAID and other line agencies in providing financial and technical support for the last years of NIDs is highly appreciated. All set has been prepared for this year, too. The disease is will endemic in Africa and Asia. The SAARC region is believed to be a fertile ground for paralylic polio including other vaccine preventable diseases. Till date, it has been concluded that to eliminate polio oral polio vaccine (OPV) is prepared from attenuated, harmless and toxin free live viruses. But due to the confusion over the nature of the live polio viruses, hopes of eradicating polio from the globe within stipulated time frame are being compromised. According to a news the use of live polio viruses as immunising agent in the long run may harm instead of doing well. That news is quite controversial, but no such reaction has been put forth by any international, health authorities like WHO and UNICEF.

Contagious

Polio is a highly contagious disease which is transmitted from one person is another. It cripples children below five years of age for long and can even kill them. Once the disease attacks, there is no any kind of specific treatment for which 2 to 3 drops of polio is the only way to escape it’s threat. Poor sanitation and rural slums are believed to be main causes behind the spread of the virus. Unplanned sewage system is a favourable breeding place for polio viruses. Primarily, polio virus affects the alimentary canal, and may be transmitted upto the central nervous system through the spinal cord resulting in paralysis or causing life long deformities of the body or probably death. In the prevaccination era, polio was found in all parts of the world. The extensive use of polio vaccines since 1954 has virtually eliminated the disease in the developed countries where public health system was strong and well. For immunising purpose two types of vaccines are used throughout the world, they are inactivated ( salk) injectable polio vaccine (IPV) and live attenuated oral (sabin) polio vaccine (OPV). Because of administrative convenience, rather than efficacy OPV has been widely used. The WHO programme on immunisation (IPI) and the National Immunisation Programme in our country recommended 3 dose of OPV 4 to 6 weeks apart. Pegging on its vow to revive the planet from its rampant situation of a crippling disease of children under five years of age in 1988 World Health Organisation (WHO) adopted a goal of polio eradication by the year 2000. Nepal is an active member country of WHO hence as a part of the global effort to banish the scourge from the surface of the earth by 2000, a national immunisation against polio began in Nepal four years ago. Similarly, 5th round of nation-wide anti-polio is just round the corner. To materialise the goal all set is ready. But as soon as the date of 5th year’s first round of intensive national immunisation day is approaching nearer doubt over it is looming large in the international health arena in general and Nepalese health care system in particular. According to another news report (Oct 27) from AFP source intitled "polio eradication goals threatened by use of live virus: Research" has put fourth question mark on immunisation against polio by attenuated live OPV. Till date, most of the countries are using OPV for immunising purpose either in routine immunisation period or in the time of mass vaccination.

Globally, it has been concluded that OPV after administration induces local as well as systemic immunity against the disease. OPV is a component of five, weakened and toxinless viruses prepared by highly advanced modern technology. When children are fed such vaccine viruses, they get immunity themselves, and besides, the vaccine viruses are excreted through their stool and may be disseminated in nature to kill or replace other wild disease causing polio viruses. As such, the importance of OPV is not only to develop immunity to a single child but also to cultivate vaccine viruses to overcome the disease causing wild polio viruses present in nature. But these logics are now being compromised by the use of live polio viruses that is enabling the polio viruses to return to the environment through stool excreted by the child who receive it. The news reports says 29 cases of polio viruses were detected from the samples taken from a sewage and river in Japan. These are all tested samples were taken from children who received OPV as an integral part of mass vaccination launched by their school. The search further clears that prior to take samples the stool excreted by the children were passed through their system and intered the sewage network. Besides most of the excreted samples were found highly virulent and active viruses after replicating in the gut of the children. But the report still fails to give more details about the pathogenicists of the viruses. As far as logic goes we must agree with the report, it is so because that the live but attenuated virus may be active if it gets suitable temperature and media to grow. In such a situation if anyone comes into direct contact with raw sewage, what would happen then? It is a matter of serious concern to all. Let alone the matter of the other hygienically advanced country, in the context of Nepal where there is absence of basic sanitation, what will be the result of the free flow of sewage, to the rivers located inside the Kathmandu valley alone? So long as we continue the process of immunisation with OPV the risk of polio virus to return to the society through infected faecal matter will still exist. Such type of conflict seen in the field of polio eradication through OPV are threatening the progress gained so far. In such a sceptical situation international health authorities like WHO, UNICEF and such other line agencies should not lag behind to clarify the doubt seen in this sector.

Curiosity

Lastly, it goes without saying that as the fixed date of immunisation days are approaching curiosity is increasing among the general public residing across the globe who are eager to know the facts published in news stories. In this regard international health agencies are also seen like mute spectators without showing any reaction regarding such confusion over OPV so far. In our context, the government is also turning a deaf ear. Such conflicting notion should be clarified as soon as possible otherwise it would take wrong attitude among the general mass. Since there is very little chance that individuals come into direct contact with waste matter from the child’s faeces who receives OPV, however, access to the sewage system and river is easy for many individuals. As such, the chances to be infected with oro-faecal route is likely more than expected.

My Kind Of A Better Kathmandu

By Yug Bahadur

THE beauty of Kathmandu never failed to hit me every time I came here from abroad. One of the first such memories I have is when I came here for a school vacation from big, bad and dirty Calcutta way back in the early Seventies. I was thrilled not only to be back home, but by the sheer pleasant environment of this Valley. In some ways, I presumed I understood how Bhanubhakta must have felt when he dashed off the poetry Chapala, Apala haru ek surama, as he first set eyes on beautiful Kantipuri Nagari.

Invasion

But that Kathmandu exists no more. Hordes of people, vehicle drivers in a hurry, ugly buildings and different other foreign beings and objects have invaded this city. So, it is no more a moving experience to come or live here, forget about writing a poetry describing its beauty.

This rapid growth all around, as can be expected, has also led to the destruction of the natural environment of this enchanting place. And it is quite right for environmentalists to feel concerned about the dangerous level of air pollution in the city. It is good to see them writing articles, holding seminars, shouting slogans and lobbying in different other ways to see a cleaner and better Kathmandu. Like all these people who like to see the natural environment of this beautiful Valley intact, I also want to see the pollution stopped.

But how do you do this, apart from the lobbying part?

Well at least as far as I am concerned, you cannot do it by just banning vehicles from the streets of the city. Yes, I have felt the difference after the banning of the polluting diesel Vikram three wheelers, but will the same happen if the 20 or more years old vehicles are also driven off the streets of this city?

Before we answer this question, let us look at a host of other things that are scarring the Valley and also causing environmental destruction. The marble quarry on the Southern edge of Kathmandu, the brick kilns, mostly towards the East, the unauthorised and unplanned construction, the filth all around, the poor quality of the fuel used by vehicles and not the least, the unthinking behaviour of many of the residents of this city itself.

What is being done about all these things? Forget the difficult part of shutting down factories or changing the attitude of the people, has anything been done about such a simple thing like checking the poor quality of fuel? Adulterated fuel directly affects the emission of not only a twenty year old vehicle, but also that of a spanking new Mercedez? So are only the vehicles to blame? If so, why shouldn’t the new Mercedez also be banned?

If one remembers correctly, once several years back, the authorities had announced that they would check the quality of fuel in the local petrol pumps, as there had been reports that petrol, diesel and engine oil were being adulterated. But when the pump owners protested against this legible decision of the authorities and pulled down shutters, there arose a huge fuel crisis in the City. And after a few days, the government backed down and stopped making such on-the-spot checks!

For now, I do not mean to say that dilapidated and pollution belching vehicles should be allowed to ply on the streets of the City. What we want is, vehicles to be checked on individual basis, not on the basis of their age.

Moreover, other factors like the effects a blanket decision of banning certain year-old vehicles will have on the economic and social sectors of the society, is another matter. Yes, I like to see a clean and pollution free Kathmandu, but not at the cost of the general people.

However, it will take much more space to discuss this aspect of the vehicle emission control campaign, but what can be said is, many of the developing countries would not be where they are today, had they made such uncompromising decisons in the name of environment.

Yes, I am also a fervent supporter of the "Clean Kathmandu" campaign, but this does not mean I will be happy if a visa system is applied for Nepalese citizens to come to Kathmandu, so that it will not be crowded. I will not support a regulation that will not allow an individual to build a house here. Nor will I clap happily if some other rights of individuals are curtailed in the name of a cleaner city!

In hindsight, much blame for the present woes of Kathmandu goes to the previous power holders, decision makers and planners of the country. Had they had even a little bit of vision, this Valley might have been a much better place to visit and live in right now. We may not have had the claustrophobically clogged streets, the suffocating pollution or a situation where houses are first built and then the search goes for other "minor" details like roads, sewage, electricity and water!

Need

Yet, blanket decisions made under pressure and without much thought will not undo the mistakes that have been committed in the past. What we need is more system, pragmatism and vision while formulating policies that deals with a sensitive issue like man and nature. Humans cannot live without nature, but what will be the use of nature if the very sensitivities of humans are not respected?

So yes, I still love Kathmandu, but I don’t want to see it having a "Euro One" of New Millennium standard only in terms of controlling air pollution, such rigid standards should be there in every way. And for this to happen, a proper balance must be struck in dealing with any problem or issue, a sea-saw approach will just not work.

The Creation Of Nepali Congress

By Guna Dev Bhattarai

DURING 1950s many political parties, namely the Nepali Congress, Gorkha Parishad, Sanyukta Prajatantra and the Communist parties came into existence in Nepal. Of all the parties, the Nepali Congress has been playing a prominent role in the political history of Nepal. The role of other political parties in shaping the destiny of Nepal cannot be ignored, albeit.

After the termination of the Second World War (1939-45 A. D.), the British Empire lost its glory in the world and the Rana Regime which had been depending on the goodwill of the British was counting its days. Before the independence of India (August 15, 1947) the Nepalese youths associated with the Socialist Party of India had taken part in the Indian National Movement. After the Indian independence, the Nepalese youths took their interests off the Indian politics and started concentrating in Nepalese politics.

A big wave of politics swept over the Asian countries in the twentieth century. Across countries of Asia. India in particular people had gained much experience in the political and constitutional fields. Besides, many great leaders Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Seokarno of Indonesia and Ho-chi Minh of Vietnam in particular guided their respective countries to be united against the ‘imperialist’ powers. After the Second World War the economy of Great Britain and France was shattered beyond repair. Revolts, national movements and other factors saw the emergence of several independence states.

In October 1946, Bisheswor Prasad Koirala, who was then associated with the Indian Congress Socialist group, gave a clarion call to the Nepalese youths residing in India to launch a movement against the autocratic rule of the Ranas. In the course of time the Nepali Rastriya Congress came into existence in the beginning of the year 1947. This party passed various resolutions. It wanted earnest cooperation of the Indian politicians.

To begin with the Nepali Rastriya Congress Party adopted a non-violent policy. The Biratnagar incident the strike of the Jute Mill workers, which was suppressed, boosted the morale of the party workers. Padma Shumsher the then prime minister assured the Nepalese to bring about some political reforms. As a result, the Government Act of 1948 A.D. came into existence. Though the Act gave some political concessions to the people it preserved all the traditional rights which belonged to Shree Teen Maharaja since the days of Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur. Mohan Shumshere, the successor of Padma Shumsher banned the Nepali Rastriya Congress and withdrew almost all the provisions of the Nepal Act of 1948 A.D.

The newly formed party comprise the many factions could not come to understanding. In the meantime B.P. Koirala and D. R. Regmi began to grind their own axes to be the President of the Party. On the occasion of the Inaugural Conference of the Rastriya Congress Tanka Prasad Acharya of the Praja Parishad was elected its first President but as he had been in jail. B.P. Koirala was made the Acting President in his place. When B.P. Koirala was confined to captivity after the Satyagraha. Movement at Biratnagar Matrika Prasad Koirala cast his eyes on the prestigious presidential post. But D.R. Regmi was made the Acting President. After his release from captivity B.P. Koirala claimed that he should be reinstated as the President of the party. D.R. Regmi being sidelined decided to quit the Party to the effect two parties bearing the same name began to function separately in India.

In August 1948 a new party, Nepal Prajatantrik Congress, was formed by the ‘C’ Class Ranas, who had became rich by means of lucrative business. Subarna Shumsher and Mahabeer Shum Shere were the leading members of the party. Their main aim was to wipe out the Rana regime by the use of force.

Mohan Shum Shere tried to appease India by every means so that the latter might not support the political parties operating from India. Mohan did not or would not tolerate any political activity in the country. He brought about some smoke screen to hush up the voice of the people in the country.

The ‘C Class Ranas’ residing in India began to help the political leaders in one way or the other. In the meantime some intellectual youths formed Praja Panchayat, backed by the Government, Act of 1948 A.D. The leading members of the party were arrested.

The defiant attitude adopted by the ‘C Class Ranas’ residing in India by not showing courtesy to Mohan Shumsher during his visit to India promoted the Prime Minister to confiscate their property in Nepal. The Prajatantrik Congress of the Ranas was eager to win the help of the Rastriya Congress whose leading members also wanted financial help from the ‘C Class Ranas’. In the course of time, the two-parties came to an understanding so that they might wipe out the autocratic rule of the Ranas. Eventually, in April in 1950 a new party, the Nepali Congress was created. D. R. Regmi remained aloof of the said party and became President of the Rastriya Congress Party.