Iraq Crisis
War, Wound And Woes

By Srijana Aryal

THIS is the new millennium and we are watching Baghdad burn, bombed and blackened. Not only the Iraqis but also coalition forces have fallen in the fight.

Disturbing

What's most disturbing was a visual on CNN particularly the one said to be captured by one of the expelled journalists from Iraq. It was as if there was a firecracker display in the skies of Baghdad and the world, which was never tired of talking about American democracy, was watching U.S.-led bombardment in Iraq and that too silently.

I am not in favour of Baghdad. Neither am I in favour of the war. Yet, a question often strikes in my mind -can the victor of this liberation war guarantee that the regime replacing Saddam Hussein will not make weapons of mass destruction and will not be toppled and ruled by another Saddam Hussein in the years to come if not now?

Osama Bin Laden is still a mystery and Saddam Hussein has become a mystery now. We are not in a position to say this mystery will not remain a mystery.

Every paper, every document, every advertisement and every notice in America says loudly and boldly "no discrimination will be made on the basis of race, colour, creed, religion, place of national origin, gender, age or disability."

Because of this, the country is known in the world for its freedom of expression, for being fair and for its faith. We know America is a country where protests are staged against the war waged by itself; where the protest is stronger than the support for its own warriors; where some are more concerned about the country which is being attacked upon by herself and which is more worried about making other countries democratic.

Despite these characteristics and qualities, America is drawing international criticism. It may be recalled only about 40 countries are supporting the U.S. in the current war.. The world, which was with America on September11, is not now with it. The world which was with America when it bombed Afghanistan and is still doing so is not with it now. Even Afghanistan-liberated by the U.S.A. and Pakistan- assisted by it in smoking out and tracking down the terrorists since the beginning are not supporting her. Above all the world which was with it in the Gulf War I is not with it in the Gulf War II.
Now the people have begun to think America is attacking particular region if not religion.
The global Muslim unity has a reason to think so. There are many countries which were not alike Iraq. They too have the weapons of mass destruction and they themselves boast about and they too have similar political system.

Saddam will in all probability be dismissed from power but the current way might breed terrorism because it might give a rallying point for some extremist groups in the Islamic world.

The opinion- that killing of one person regenerates eight persons who later take revenge, has been floated by the peace-lovers is also worth pondering.

We hear, the Egyptian President has said that photographs of Iraqi women and children supposed to have been killed accidentally by American soldiers were creating more Osama bin Ladens, and that Arabs from neighbouring countries were volunteering for a new jihad in Iraq.

Tyrants, terrorists and torturers - you can smoke them out but you can't sweep them out. They regenerate, replace, replenish and replete. They are so loyal that they are even willing to kill themselves for anyone, for their belief and for their faith.

The U.S. government should try to focus on the root cause of the anti-Americanism and find out why its erstwhile friends have turned into foes. It should rather persuade all others and try to prove and justify that what it is doing is just.

The loss and damage of this war will be incalculable in terms of lives, resources, archaeological sites and environment.

But still the only remorse is this war could have been averted. The international body was seeking a resolution. This last resort could have been converted into the last resolution. Let's hope there will be swift and safe resolution to this. Because war kills people. Those who are not the creators do not have the right whatsoever to become the destroyers.

Irreparable

In addition to it, the scar it will leave in the history of international community and in the minds of the people who lost their loved ones will be indelible. The emptiness left by the departing souls of the dear ones is irreparable. The wounds will be too deep.

The woes will continue. The world is watching with "shock and awe" this war of liberation -leaving many questioning now what's next. There might be a long never-ending list of countries with dictatorships occupying weapons of mass destruction awaiting America seeking liberation.

Empowering Rural Women

By Jhabindra Bhandari

SHYAM Kumari, of Basamadi village in Makwanpur district feels proud of herself as an active Female Community Health Volunteer (FCHV). She has been actively participating for a long time in educating mothers' groups and communities in primary health care, safe motherhood, family planning, and HIV/AIDS. With support from District Health Office, Health Posts and Sub Health Posts, she has participated in a number of training and workshops in the district. Her interest and confidence in organising and motivating community people in health care has been most appreciative in the locality.

Limited

"Now, the health seeking behaviour in the communities is greatly improved. Many times, I have referred complicated cases of pregnancy and child birth to the district hospital," says she, adding that health education is most important in the communities. However, in the remote areas where the indigenous Chepang communities live community health programmes are still limited. She further opines that community participation in health is most needed and the FCHV programme is entirely meant for this.

Like Shyam Kumari, there are many success stories of FCHVs' contribution in health promotion throughout the country. A news item published recently in the Gorakhapatra daily (16 April, 2003) indicates an encouraging progress in Machhapuchhre Village Development Committee (VDC) in Kaski district. With an objective of further facilitating community based primary health care initiatives, the VDC has set up a FCHV trust fund amounting to NRs. 100 thousands with support from local non-governmental organisations and community leaders. This will offer FCHVs an important opportunity to invest in community health as and when required.

In order to improve rural health, the government initiated community-based FCHV Programme in the fiscal year 1988/89. The FCHV programme is particularly aimed at creating community awareness in primary health care through community participation. The ultimate objective of this programme is to empower rural women in primary health care and improve utilisation of available health services. This programme addresses the growing needs of social mobilisation in health care.

The FCHVs' focus is entirely for the promotion of safe motherhood, maternal and child health, family planning and community health. Experience reveals that the role of FCHVs have been very important to educate mothers' groups and promote community participation in health care. These volunteers are actively involved in distributing pills, condoms, ORS packets and Vitamin A capsules. In some selected programme districts, they even treat and refer ARI cases.

In fact, FCHV programme is a milestone in community-based primary health care. Be it National Immunization Day or Vitamin A capsules distribution campaign, the FCHVs have been increasingly mobilized. This is why, the programme has, undoubtedly, enhanced participation of rural women in community health and development. Despite continuous efforts of FCHVs' capacity building initiatives at the local level, the progress is still minimal. Much more has to be invested in training of FCHVs so that their capacity and capability improve significantly. Side by side, it is most important to create an enabling environment for FCHVs to involve in a wide range of community health programmes at the community and village level.

To accomplish more supportive environment at the village level, the health workers and village level stakeholders must recognize the important role of FCHVs and develop community plans for action. In addition to this, there needs supportive supervision from health workers, sub-health posts and health posts. The FCHVs' participation in networking and coordination with other NGOs' health and development programmes need to be improved at the local level through review meetings, workshops, and exchange visits.

As a matter of fact, rural health in Nepal is increasingly important as majority of the population who live in rural villages are small farmers relying heavily on subsistence farming. Even though, the government is focusing on rural development, rural population faces strong challenges of poverty, education, health care, infrastructure and other social and economic opportunities. Most importantly, women and children are most deprived of the health care services.

In the health sector, the government has recognized high infant and maternal mortality, rapid population growth, poor immunization coverage, nutritional status, sanitation as key problems and challenges in rural health. More importantly, lack of awareness in health and sanitation in the rural communities is primarily a matter of concern. The government and external development partners are seriously trying hard to improve rural health through awareness raising, improving health care delivery, community participation and partnership.

Effective

In the recent years, decentralisation in health sector is greatly realised as a means to respond local health needs and priorities. In this context, the FCHV programme is one of the important initiatives in health promotion. There are emerging needs of community participation and local ownership in health care delivery and management. In a country like ours where primary health care services are still limited in rural areas, the FCHV programme is effective in terms of empowering rural women and ensuring their choices.

Missing Children

By Uday Lama

IT'S sad but true that a number of children go missing every year in the metropolis. Whether they find their way home or are apprehended by benefactors is largely a matter of speculation and doubt. When the young ones disappear into thin air then the electronic and broadcast media show their pictures and descriptions. Cases of a find go unreported and may not be registered with the police station.
In this dismal scenario what is to be done? First of all it's the parents'/guardians' responsibility to see that their charges do not go off on their own and wander the streets. It's easy to imagine the state of mind of the youngsters who suddenly find themselves on a dark street and no one to take care of them. Terrified and frightened they wander hither and thither until some unscrupulous rogues come along to take advantage of their sorry plight.

Even when the absence of a young loved one is notified to the concerned authorities nothing much can be done except to hope and wait. To mount a search in such a case is not feasible apart from alerting the nearest police posts to be on the lookout for such and such a child wearing nondescrepit clothes and with sneakers or slippers.

It's not unusual for young school age children to leave their abode due to parental neglect, domestic violence, abuse and a hard life, preferring to live a life on the streets where they can claim a freedom of sorts and do as they please. But little do they know of the horrors awaitng them or realise the implications of their actions which amounts to a death knell.

Life on the streets soon turn soft pliable children into hardened individuals, ready to sniff glue and live off leftovers and forage for scraps in the nearby dumps. Hope of a return home diminishes with each passing day and contact is lost to be replaced by a grim and die-hard attitude.

Where do the missing children turn up? Certainly not in the hands of a friendly person who has their interest in mind. And there are any number of dark places where they might find themselves. Chances are they could be hired by strangers to do menial work and subjected to a harsh and cruel treatment. Or caught by a gang who prey upon the young and the innocent to reap a profit in the process.
The state of anxiety and foreboding associated with a missing case is underscored by gloomy looks and nail-biting suspense. Particularly of parents who often take on the blame and close kith and kin who can do nothing except offer cheer and extend sympathy. To see one of their loved ones no more in their presence and out where they are lost in the milieu makes for a sad scene.

The case becomes a matter of criminal investigaton if foul play is suspected. Then the branch of police force charged with the case swings into action. Locals are questioned and suspects arrested to await questioning and possible clues of the whereabouts of the child looked into. The matter is often made public and co-operation sought from all quarters.