 |
|||
|
|
|||
|
| LETTERS |
Health Menace Diabetes is becoming a major health menace for the urban Nepalese population ("A Silent Killer", SPOTLIGHT, September 14). Your cover story provided a glimpse into the actual situation of diabetes and how it is affecting our society. It appears that we lack credible information on the disease. The concerned authorities need to conduct studies that would help them come up with curative as well as preventive measures. The government may be indifferent to this disease thinking it affects only the affluent class. However, the scene could change and the disease could start making inroads into middle- and lower-class people. Therefore, it would be wise to be prepared for such a situation and, more importantly, to prevent it from materializing. Sudan Maskey Good Issue By focusing on health for your cover story ("A Silent Killer", SPOTLIGHT, September 14), you have done a good job. In fact, you should give greater priority to health stories as they inform readers about leading diseases and suggest ways to deal with illnesses they have or are likely to suffer from. Diabetes is taking a heavy toll around the world. We, in Nepal, should also prepare ourselves for the growing challenge this disease represents. Concerted efforts from all concerned are required to defeat this common enemy. Hari Dhungel Cost Of Cure Diabetes exacts severe costs not only in terms of a person’s health but also the nation’s economy ("A Silent Killer", SPOTLIGHT, September 14). The consequence of diabetes manifests itself in various forms like eye disease, heart and kidney ailments. Increasingly, the disease is affecting the relatively younger population who are economically active. Therefore, the government needs to make more serios efforts at controlling the disease and its deadly effects. Moreover, the urban population is not aware about the hazards of this disease and how it can be prevented. The Health Ministry should step up public awareness campaigns about this and other diseases. Shridhar Mainali Scourge Of Terrorism Last week’s appalling terrorist attacks in New York and Washington DC have exposed the fragility of security in even the most powerful nation on the earth. The loss of precious lives is irreparable and no word is adequate to condemn the perpetrators of such barbaric acts. Understandably, the US government has announced a war against international terrorism. The international community should support this war. Nepal, too, has been experiencing bad times thanks to terrorism unleashed by the Maoists. Thousands of lives have been lost in the last six years in the insurgency. Nepalis hope that India, where leaders of Maoists seemingly find refuge, as shown by the recent Silguri conference, will not extend any overt or covert support to elements that are spreading terror in its small friendly neighbor. The international community, too, should look at what is happening here and put pressure on anybody or any state that may be harboring terrorists. Sailesh Bista Bestial Deeds The heinous terrorist attacks on the twin towers of World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC have rallied international opinion against such violence anywhere in the world. Nepalis, who have been enduring terrorism in the form of Maoist violence, are hoping that this global crusade will give them much-needed respite. As both India and Pakistan have come out openly against terrorism, one can expect that the scenario in South Asia may change in the days to come. None of the countries would be able to provide sanctuary to any group claiming to be leading a rebellion in another country. From Kashmir to the North-east in India and from Colombo to Kathmandu, international opinion will condemn any form of violence. The Maoists, too, should take stock of the present international situation. As they know that they are going to face difficult days ahead, it would be in their interest as well to end their insurgency through dialogue. Dinesh Rai Quake Calls It has been reported numerous times that a big earthquake is inevitable in our country ("Advance Shocks", SPOTLIGHT, September 7). Still, the authorities are not paying any attention in terms of raising mass awareness. They have failed to inform the public about the hazards of quakes and organize campaigns to make people adhere to the building code during construction. Poor as we are, the added burden of natural calamity could lead to an unthinkable situation in the country. There has to be a sustained campaign from the media also until the authorities start taking concrete steps. Ganesh Bhattarai Tourism Scarred The series of events that have occurred in Nepal starting from the plane hijack to the royal massacre has led to a very disturbing image of the country abroad, as is evident by your article "Anxiety Abroad" (SPOTLIGHT, September 7). Enough damage has been done to the country’s tourism industry. As tourism is still potentially the most lucrative foreign exchange earning industry for the country, we have to go all out with a campaign to restore the country’s image as a safe and friendly destination. Such campaigns should be targeted at European, Asian and American countries so that the stream of visitors would not subside. Nil Kumar Shrestha |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
