Wide Support

THOUGH His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has become Nepal’s new monarch in these sad and difficult times, the universal support from across the Nepalese political spectrum and the general public to His Majesty’s accession to the throne serves as a testimony to the general confidence in His Majesty to run the affairs of the country in accordance with popular consensus and the people’s wishes. Sincere expressions of best wishes to His Majesty King Gyanendra on his ascending the throne are pouring in from all quarters of national life. The common denominator in these expressions is the faith and trust in His Majesty’s commitment to multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy. The ruling party, Nepali Congress, has been the first to say that it deeply appreciates His Majesty’s expression of commitment to the constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy. At a meeting held Tuesday, the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee congratulated His Majesty King Gyanendra on assuming the role of the country’s new monarch. His Majesty had expressed his firm belief in the new order that Nepal has adopted since 1990 when he said in his royal proclamation on Monday following his accession to the throne, that the wishes of His late Majesty King Birendra of guiding the Nepalese people towards a prosperous future through constitutional monarchy and multiparty democratic exercises will always remain a source of inspiration for all of us. Such a firm commitment not unnaturally has elicited expressions of firm belief from different political parties and members of the public that His Majesty would be able to provide continuity to the contriutions made by His late Majesty King Birendra to nationalism, democracy and overall development of the country as well as the ideals, norms and values established by His late Majesty. There were expressions of confidence that His Majesty would make significant contributions to independence, nationalism, national unity and territorial integrity. These sentiments from the political parties, leaders and the general public are a reflection of both the desire of the Nepalese to solidly support the institution of crown as well as the conviction that Nepal’s multi-party democracy will be further strengthened during His Majesty’s reign. It also represents the common people’s wishes to try to put behind this completely unexpected national tragedy by rallying round the new monarch and to look ahead.

Shamans’ Utility

TUBERCULOSIS—or TB in short—is still one of the few major killer diseases in developing nations like Nepal. That this disease has been decimating the world’s population for centuries has been proved by modern medical sciences after studying the assorted bodies embalmed in caskets or entombed in caves. But due to the lack of proper understanding of this killer disease’s nature and causes during those times by both the medical practitioners and laymen alike, this same disease, from time to time, used to rampage through whole cities and communities like wildfires. So deadly was this disease that the people used to think that to contract it was like booking a one-way ticket for the gates of Hades. However, with the march of modern medical sciences that has led to the manufacturing of potent drugs to counteract this deadly disease’s effects, this malady nowadays is curable. Provided, of course, such drugs are readily available to the TB patients and that the victims have quick and easy access to proper medical services and care.

Unfortunately, in a cash-crunched, resource-strapped nation like Nepal, such amenities are still out of reach of the people residing in the remote regions. It’s not that the government has lagged behind in availing such facilities to the TB victims. On the contrary, the people now know that this disease is curable and that TB patients need to strictly abide by the latest treatment regime, the DOTS, if they are to be completely cured. While the need to take this proven DOTS programme to the doorsteps of the people is always there, it also looks to reason on the part of the health authorities to utilise all available means and ways to launch concerted campaigns against this malady. Like, for example, drafting the services of the shamans. In some areas where anti-TB medical services and drugs are not easily available, some people still do seek the services of the shamans. If these witch-doctors are imparted proper training in recognising TB symptoms, they could advice the TB victims to go to health centres for proper medical care. Since TB is a contagious disease, such advice could go a long way in helping to lessen TB incidents in the country. The one-day DOTS-orientation programme organised recently for shamans by the Dolpa District Health Office should, therefore, be viewed in this light.