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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
Health Profile The books highlights
different aspects of health situation in the country By A CORRESSPONDENT Nepal has five decades long history of development of modern health system but it is yet to develop a system to thoroughly compile reports regarding the health manpower and other related matters. Five decades may be very short time in the country’s development history but Nepal has made several landmark achievements in this area. From producing skilled human resources to establishment of health manpower development institutions and setting up of primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities, Nepal has made noteworthy achievements. Despite such development in the area of health sector, there is a lack of comprehensive, intuitive and scientific information about the status of health sector. Thanks to the effort by Professor K.K. Kafle, who teaches at Tribhuwan University Medicine Campus, a book has come out regarding district drug use and health profile of Nepal. Based on the most recent data related to health sector collected from national and international journals report, this book is a first of its kind which is rich in information on manpower and medicine uses in different parts of the country. “The data of this profile includes national level, development regions and ecological belts of the country and are arranged in district-wise manner. The profile will be useful to policymakers, planners, researchers, professional and students, educational institutions and organizations working in health sector. Besides it will also be useful for social and other developmental sectors,” said Professor Kafle. The profile includes general demographic and ecological information; articles on drug use and abstracts of drug use studies; information regarding health institutions and manpower; immunization status, safe motherhood program coverage. The book also covers utilization of general health services incidents and prevalence of malaria, kala-azar, leprosy and tuberculosis and drug use indicators. The general demographic and ecological information in the book have been taken from Nepal Human Development Report1998, the Kingdom of Nepal, Department of Information; and report of population Census 2001. The institutional and health services information have been taken from annual reports, Department of Health Services, 2000/2001. The retailers number has been listed from Nepal Pharmaceutical Guide. “There is no single document to provide objective information related to drug use in Nepal. This book prepared by INRUD provides essential information about drug use for different level of health care including private sector at the district level,” writes Dr. B.D. Chataut, director general of Department of Health Services in his foreword. One of the important aspects of the book is that it collects comprehensive information regarding the drug uses, quality of health care facility and support of health institutions. “Information is needed about the quality of supply and rational use addressing the situation at different levels of health care outlets. The information needs to include knowledge, skills and practices of providers including prescribers, dispensers, storekeepers and users,” writes Dr. Chataut. With an aim to provide necessary information to health system planners, mangers, researchers and academic institutions, the editors have made every effort to put available information. In the process of future planning and decision-making in the health sector, the requirement of true and fact-based information will be acutely felt. In the health sector, this is the first effort to bring all necessary information. District Drug Use and Health
Profile 2002 On Diplomacy Former foreign secretary
Pradhan explains diplomatic strategy for Nepal in his latest book There are only a handful of books on Nepal's foreign policy and strategy for survival. After retiring from active foreign service, some former bureaucrats have made efforts to highlight Nepal's experiment and experiences in foreign policy. Biswa Pradhan's latest book titled "Diplomatic Strategy for Nepal" is one such book. Although Pradhan retired many years ago from the Foreign Service, he continues to write books on various issues of foreign policy of Nepal. "How can Nepal's foreign policy be more effective in its international relations? Can it be consistent and coherent enough to its applications? What are the strengths and weaknesses? These are some pertinent questions which form the subject matter of this book," writes Pradhan in his introduction. AtB a time when the country is facing major challenges of insurgency at internal level, the international goodwill and support is vital to settle it. "Essentially, foreign policy begins at home. Domestic support, inter alia, is fundamentally a decisive pre-conditioning factor for foreign policy with any real measure of success. To put more stress on domestic support would mean requirement of sound and stable political system in the country, coupled with its economic development to lay solid foundation of foreign policy," writes Pradhan. Having written many books during his long diplomatic career, Pradhan also served as a Nepalese ambassador to the United States of America and to Egypt. Pradhan also taught international relations at Durbar College and National College before joining the foreign ministry. Diplomatic Strategy For Nepal |
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