Targetting Trachoma

IT is good news for many Nepalese especially in the far-western terai parts of Nepal who have been, and are potential, victims of the trachoma that a major initiative is now under way to control the eye disease in the country. A multi-pronged initiative called SAFE Nepal, launched by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Wednesday, will try to save hundreds of thousands of Nepalese from trachoma, identified as the country’s second-leading cause of blindness by Nepal’s first survey on eye health undertaken in 1981. The justification for major anti-trachoma campaign comes from the stark facts established by various surveys down the years. It has been found that trachoma is clustered geographically, with the highest prevalence in far-western region of the terai. Fifty per cent of trachoma cases were found within a 100 km radius and 90 per cent within a 200 km radius of Nepalgunj in Banke district. According to a survey, Bheri and Seti has trachoma prevalence of 26.6 per cent, almost four times the national rate. Additionally, certain ethnic groups were found to be disproportionately affected notably Tharus, Thakuri, Magar and Gurung with the highest prevalence among the Tharu communities. On the basis of such findings, SAFE Nepal, which is a joint undertaking of International Trachoma Initiative and Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh will target seven districts viz. Kalilali, Kanchanpur, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Surkhet, Dailekh and Jajarkot.

There is reason to hope that the severity of the trachoma in these areas could be considerably lessened with the help of such a campaign-like scheme which will, among other things, provide training to health workers in screening for trachoma and in advanced surgical techniques. The challenge in containing trachoma lies in the fact that it is easily transmitted from person to person. As it first occurs in children, women, who are in close contact with children, are likely to be blinded by trachoma two to three times often than men. Given this, spreading awareness about the causes of trachoma has to receive a major push, apart from the curative approach. SAFE stands for a four-pronged strategy to fight trachoma—surgery, antibiotics, face washing and environmental changes to increase access to clean and water and improved sanitation. The success of the campaign also depends on how Nepal’s hospitals and health posts, particularly in the trachoma-hit areas, are sensitised and equipped to deal with it. The scheme must leave positive, sustainable marks on the general eye care health system for a continued battle to eventually eradicate the disease.

Token Of Tribute

NEPAL’S tourism sector has established itself as one of the principal source of foreign exchange. Apart from bringing in much needed foreign currencies this sector also provides direct employment to thousands of people nationwide. The share of tourism in Gross Domestic Product (3%) is substantial if compared to other sectors. Besides, the tourism sector, mountaineering in particular, has played a major role in making land-locked Nepal known to the outside world. Nepal is home to eight of the world’s ten peaks that are above 8000 metres. Nepal’s young mountains have always lured expeditions and mountaineers from around the world since the times immemorial. In the early 1920’s, Briton Sir George Mallory made an attempt to scale Mt. Everest, the tallest peak on earth, "because it’s there." Three decades later, Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and New Zealandar Sir Edmund Hillary climbed the peak, registering themselves as the first men to make it to the top of the world. Their success gave Nepal the world-wide publicity and the mountains, seen by some as the challenges, brought opportunities to the people who had courage and confidence. Gradually, more and more people began to test their ability to go higher and higher up. As decades passed, these mountains became one of the attractions to the visitors. Despite that only a handful of mountains were declared open for ascent and a good many number of mountains were closed for moutaineers for decades — whatever may be the reason. Of late, however, His Majesty’s Government has began to relax the rules and declared open many more peaks for the trekkers. Such a move will definitely have better results in the long term. While throwing open newer peaks for climbers reduces pressure on the over-crowded Khumbu region it also helps generate more revenues. At the same time, it paves the way for the overall development of the backward regions. The government’s latest decision to give partial and total exemption of royalty on some 60 peaks and waive 75 per cent royalty on 40 others is a good strategy to attract expeditions in the areas that have failed to draw visitors. The government’s latest decision, which coincides with the Destination Nepal Year 2002, can aptly be termed as the tribute to the first climbers as this year marks the 50th year of their successful ascent.