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LETTERS |
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LETTERS |
Sincere Issues As a regular
reader of your magazine, I have found it sincere in bringing out the issues that are long
neglected or covered superficially in mainstream media. I am very glad to read issues that
are long neglected but are of our primary concern like health or maternal mortality in
this issue “Dying at Delivery” (SPOTLIGHT November 14). Maternal mortality is
the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in most developing countries.
But it remained neglected for a long time even in the context of the world. Concept of
safe motherhood was adopted only in 1987. It is termed as the neglected tragedy. The
report of World Health Organization (WHO 1996) estimates that each year about 600,000 die
as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, and almost all 99 percent of these deaths occur
in developing world. The result is not only a tragedy for the women concerned but also for
their entire family. If our government is not serious on this issue, it certainly will
lead to disastrous consequence for the country. - Ganga B.C. Dark Facts The
cover story “Dying at Delivery” (SPOTLIGHT November 14) presents a grim picture
of maternal health in Nepal. We cannot deny the fact that a healthy mother can give birth
to a healthy baby. The health of a baby largely depends on the care taken of the mother
during the gestation period. Besides, the delivery of a baby must be safe as the unsafe
delivery of a baby can lead to physical as well as mental debility. But it is a shame that
even if our government gets assistance of million dollars from various donors and
agencies, Nepal could not extend its health facilities to the needed areas. The donors and
agencies provide the support but due to lack of policies and programs the government has
been hopeless to cater the health facilities to the publics. A frightening 90 percent of
deliveries take place at their home without help of doctors or health assistants. The
government programs have failed to bring the desired result in this sector. It clearly
shows the government has not been as serious as it has to be regarding maternal health
assessment and implementation. - Krishna Thapa Novel Concept Unified
command itself is a new concept in Nepalese context though it is not the new practice in
other insurgency-hit countries. We are not ready to accept the practice out of a doubt
that it might invite more awesome reaction from the waging groups. At a time when there
are reports of abuse of human rights from both sides, it is natural to feel insecure.
Nepal, in its history, has fought with the enemy bravely in many places to protect the
foreign invasion, but had never fought with the citizen sharing the same land. It was
perhaps in our fate that we are preparing ourselves to defeat our own brethrens. Besides,
in the conflict, ignorant people are losing their lives for the crime they have not
committed. In mobilization of unified command, one thing must be made sure – that the
personnel in the forces are well aware of the human rights and the civil manners. There is
always a certain gap between the civilian and the security forces till dates. May be it is
because we never had to face such an insecure situation before. - Jitendra Pun Cultural
Delight I
am delighted to read about our traditional culture Mithila in your magazine but sad to
know the threat to it from the modernization and insecurity at the same time (“Dance
in Danger” SPOTLIGHT November 14). Modernization has not only threatened the Mithila
culture but has almost taken over the whole of Nepali culture. It is time to think about
the looming threat of cultural invasion in our culturally rich country. Every one
must know the importance and value of such culture. Most of our cultures are historical
but they are modified at various times by the rulers or the feudal. The uncontrolled wave
of the TV has already eaten up the mind of our youngsters. They are now occupied by the
utilitarian way of life of the westerners. We have not included pragmatic knowledge on
social mechanism in our education. The whole education system needs to be revamped duly
according to the changes that happen with time. Not only Mithila but also all the Nepali
culture are under the menace of foreign cultural invasion. - Bijaya Khadka Enlightening
Opinion I
really appreciate the compilation of views of Ganesh Raj Sharma in the November 14 edition
of SPOTLIGHT. It is comprehensive, lucid and interesting for better knowledge on the
constitution. We are not sure what has gone wrong with the present constitution. We hear
from our leaders often in vague language the explanation of the present constitution.
Nowadays the interpretation of the constitution is so diverse that it has made everyone
confused. Mostly, the leaders do explain and speak in public places amidst their ardent
supporters on the constitution these days. But for the common people it has still become a
hard nut to crack. Since English is read among a small number of people, Nepali version of
the article would be of help for mass readers. - Nabin Bista |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
