Natural way of HEALING

By Rachana Rauniyar

UUse of medication alone is not always sufficient to cure any health disorder unless there is a proper nutritional management. On the other hand, in the absence of good and proper nutrition the drug therapy, even though at its best, may become a total failure. On the contrary, it may be possible at least in some instances to avoid or limit the drug therapy with proper nutrition. Nutrition now plays a major role in the prevention and management of many diseases.

Indeed, one of the most important advances in the modern medicine is not the

discovery of antibiotics, but the better understanding of basic requirements of fluids and electrolytes. Human diseases are mostly the results of the heredity, environment, or food. It is not possible to change heredity, it is difficult to change environment, but it is relatively easy to change food habits. Researches show the lower the income, higher the proportion of money spent on food. Therefore knowledge of proper nutrition is essential for the economy and health.

Because of this awareness in the field of therapeutic diets the nutrition has become popular and is gaining wide acceptance in major cross-section of the world. But it seems Nepal has still to realise about its importance. It is strange that feeding of the patients is somewhat a matter left to the housewife, controlled to some degree by the physician and based not on scientific knowledge but generally on the whims and fancies. Vigilance is therefore required in counteracting the tendency towards faddist attitudes with regards to the food here. The nutritional needs of a normal person in his life span-from conception through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age-are modified according to the demands of growth and development at different stages of life. Balanced diet at these stages prevents precipitation of deficiency symptoms of any nutrient and protects the person from any nutritional disorders or infections caused due to under nourishment or malnutrition. Animals satisfies basic food requirement mainly through natural selection, man however, has access to a wide range of foods to choose to make up his diet. And I think that’s why he gets more confused for the selection of his food. Since all the foods are not of the same quality from a nutritional point of view, man’s ability to meet his nutritional needs and maintain good health depends upon the type and quantity of the food stuffs he is able to include in his diet to satisfy his hunger. Man has evolved his dietary pattern to maintain good health, perhaps after a good deal of trial and error. Satisfaction of hunger is usually the primary aim for adequate food intake. But satisfaction of hunger itself is not a safe guide for the selection of foods. For sustaining healthy and active life, diets should be planned on sound nutritional principles.

Diet therapy can be considered as a shield, which if effectively used, can protect a person from further attack of the disease and help in restoring normal health. The therapeutic diet also goes a long way in supplementing the drugs therapy and counteracting the side effects of the drugs. This leads the patient to near the normal health as soon as possible.

The feeding of the sick is both an art and a science. It is true that each person requires individual attention about his diet. His food preference and his natural requirements have to be carefully considered. It is surprising to find that even intelligent and wise people often display the wariest ignorance in respect to what and the manner in which they eat. In a family people doing diverse occupations, whether doing light or mild work or doing laborious work, all of them take the same or at least very similar foods. By this statement I don’t at all mean that a family should cook variety of food for all the different members of the house. But I just mean that they can keep a check on the quantity of the food that they consume according to the output of their work. Diet should vary according to the nature of the occupation. No improvements will be efficacious unless the individual assumes responsibility for his own well-being. Good nutrition is a goal, which can be achieved by anyone who desires it.

Moderation in everything that we eat is the key to success. It is necessary to select wisely from the different foods available in the market. A large variety of convenience foods are meant to ease the burden of the modern housewife who may also be a working lady. But they may be used only as accompaniments to the daily diet. Always remember that no single food can be the complete health food for living. Opt for natural and eat to fulfill your nutritional requirements.

Fantom Phantasy

They feel that their fantasy is broken. New things don’t find a way or hardly do, practically don’t. No new fresh beginnings or hardly any, practically none! The past continues into the present, the present into the future. So the past continues into the future.

By Vinod Adhikary

The game of the mind often starts with so-called feelings, which are often strange, in the sense that they are often new.

In the first case, its not still a good escape but only for the instance, actually for the moment, and soon further so called strange feelings come into the way, to last for some supposedly insignificant moments, to serve the first way further, until they do hold on for some supposedly quite significant time to go for the second. The sense that’s made is tried to be understood failing which a new fresh beginning starts (which is in itself a phrase to giggle at!), and passing, which is what could be the other fate. The other fate-further carrying on till it breaks down to give way to a new fresh beginning. This sequence of new fresh beginnings would stop, but with the end of new breaths and new heart-poundings!

That’s common everywhere, everywhere where life is! As common as life-supposedly! As common as life in any form-that shouldn’t be an exaggeration taking the possibility of thinking viruses! Seems they do think. Else why would they be so brave, bold and bitter plus absolutely stubborn to other lives- other thinkers! And if that is none of their thought process, rather simply they are so because of nature, are we not as we are simply because of nature? Makes sense again! But lets forget this new sense of the moment and get back to the previous sense-maker.

Wow! And it makes sense in a large number of ways- many of them senseless in themselves! But acceptance as IT making sense makes all the thenceforth senseless nesses go unsensed, usually (unusually they don’t and again- yeah the same old new fresh beginning_, and thus have a sense, unknown because unexplored because outthought of because uncared for and finally again because unsense- not sensed at all-thus bringing to the to the fore for the thought process a vicious circle. A circle- something that is material, something that can be explained in terms of the senses, so something sensible, unsensed sensuous!

Fantasy rules- love exists. She loves me! The phantom reason- I love her! She’s silent because she doesn’t want to speak. Yes she doesn’t want to speak. She doesn’t want to speak because she can’t. Yes she can’t.

And why? Yes, why? Because she has no time to! She has no mind to. Rather no more mind to! Where’s her mind then? Yes where is it? Its lost in the feeling- may be! Of what? - Of me.

And a next series of fantasy! A whole new series of desires, dreams...till devastations, destructions...! Hey! I’m nowhere!

Where? - Nowhere! Where is that? - Nowhere! So where are you?- Nowhere!! Where is she?!! Birds in the bush chirp not! They do! May be but are heard not! Get your acoustics checked! No I haven’t heard an echo. I’ve shouted umpteen times. Don’t you hear this? - "Why are you silent?" Yes I do. So, where is the answer? May be you are right! No you see, I am! I am!

Wind whispers loud, and makes leaves rustle louder, and makes the frogs sing and birds dance. Yes birds have windy moods-they dance. Who’s the DJ? - Another bird. And the narrator? - Another! Clouds kiss with absurd noises! Cry with weird tears! Pools of tears! And again silence. The sun pushes them to the grave. Under the soil. Under the earth- Clouds are lost. But to be created again. Another vicious circle? Who creates them? - The sun again! Oh! Energy! Vigor! Birds in cages shout, At whom? - The sympathizers, the empathizers- the outsiders!

Why? -They feel that their fantasy is broken. New things don’t find a way or hardly do, practically don’t. No new fresh beginnings or hardly any, practically none! The past continues into the present, the present into the future. So the past continues into the future- virtually continues. Where does it break? - At the breakdown of time! Where else? - At the breakdown of perception of time. At the breakdown of the means of perception of times. At the breakdown of the senses of perception. At sensory breakdowns! At nervous breakdowns!! At mental breakdowns!!!

What till then? - Fantom phantasy! What next? -Fantom phantasy! What now? - Fantom phantasy!!! And futility, what’s that? - Another fantom phantasy. What’s fantom phantasy? - That’s it! Welcome! Welcome into fantom phantasy!!

Bhutan Decentralisation and Good Governance

By Nitya Nanda Timsina

The Bhutanese government works primarily through the bureaucratic machinery and through state-owned enterprises, which have rigid structures and little flexibility to work towards their stated objectives. The malaise, according to the young Bhutanese writer, who first ventured into writing about Bhutan’s political and administrative structure, dates back to 1907. The year saw the emergence of absolute system of governance under the powerful king. The state collected tax to run the monks activities and maintain the royal palace becoming little responsive to public needs paved the way for 1990’s popular movement for pro-democracy.

The book is a reflection on how hereditary lines of Wangchuck dynasty’s rulers deemed of the rigid centralized administrative set-up, which ultimately brought turmoil in the Dragon Kingdom in the 1990s. The 100,000 "Lhotsampas" from Bhutan languishing in the refugee camps in Nepal is a clear indication to this.

The rulers of Bhutan wanted to foster a rigid centralized administration. The state took upon itself the burden of providing everything and stopped the growth of institutional capability.

The book highlights various decentralization processes of the hereditary lines of rulers beginning from Sabhdrung Nawang Namgyel, the first ruler of Bhutan in 1637 and then from 1907 to the present king. The author says powerful Tongsa Penlop, which transformed the administration into a highly centralized monarchy, gradually wrecked the decentralization process initiated by Sabdrung. The third King, however, deserves praises for his "far-reaching reforms" opening Bhutan from historical isolation and modernizing the country in the 1950’s. He opened the first National Assembly (Tshogdu) in 1953, to enable the popular representation. He also separated the Judiciary and the instituted a council of ministers in 1969. He went on record enacting a measure by which the Tshogdu could remove even the King through a vote of no confidence.

But why has the administration system today remained so rigid and centralized?

Dr Rizal says that it has not brought any tangible change in the socio-psychological dimension of power. It was only done to attract the donors and garner their supports.

In short, the decentralization in Bhutan remained only a cosmetic surgery.

Peer Education for Adolescents

Sex is still a taboo subject in many countries around the world, including Nepal. Many adults lack confidence in their knowledge about sex and are especially uncomfortable discussing sex with children and adolescents for fear that discussion might encourage sex before marriage.

By Dr Rajshree Jha

There are approximately 1.5 billion young people between the ages of 10-24 years worldwide. Of them, four out of five live in developing countries. Of the 23.15 million people in Nepal (Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2001), one fifth are in the adolescent age group. Approximately 43 percent of the total population is under the age of 15, and an additional 17 percent is between the ages of 15 and 24. Altogether, adolescents and youths between the ages of 10 and 24 comprise approximately 31 percent of Nepal’s population. This is a special sector of our population which has its own needs and concerns, specially as far as reproductive health is concerned.

Generally speaking persons between 10-19 age group are known as adolescents. Rather than a particular age, adolescence is a phase of life from childhood to adulthood, a period of important transitions. During this second decade of an adolescent, besides the physical changes observed, emotional, biological as well as psychological changes also take place. Parents are not usually willing to talk of reproductive health issues, teachers feel it’s the parents who should be dealing with sensitive issues like sexuality, adolescents get mixed messages from the media. So to whom do adolescents turn to then? Usually to friends, friends become an important source for information and discussions, from changes in puberty to sexual matters which was recently emerged from the NAYA Study.

Sex is still a taboo subject in many countries around the world, including Nepal. Many adults lack confidence in their knowledge about sex and are especially uncomfortable discussing sex with children and adolescents for fear that discussion might encourage sex before marriage. NAYA participants were asked whether they had ever discussed sex with anyone, 64% overall had, more females than males had discussed it, although the percentage did not vary by marital status for either sex. When asked with whom they talked about sex, 80%-85% of boys reported talking to friends. Females on the other hand had talked to their mothers (30% to 32%) as well as their friends (43% to 34%) and sisters (20%).

The study revealed that nearly all respondents would like to know more about all topics related to reproductive health. Females and males differed somewhat with regard to their preferred sources of information. The greatest percentages cited friends as their preferred sources, though more than a third included physicians and health workers as potential sources of information. Females were less likely than males to mention health care workers as preferred source.

In HIV prevention programs, in particular, peer outreach programs have resulted in increased knowledge and more positive attitudes about health promotion; there have some promising indications about behavioral change regarding STD/HIV prevention. Compared to adult educators and counselors, young people seem to prefer their peers in this role and may be able to learn more effectively from them.

Selection of peer educators (saathi shikshak) was done by their own peers in various schools both in Kailali and Kathmandu, then these young people underwent an intensive training for a week. Reproductive health issues like: physical and emotional changes during adolescents, menstruation and its care, dangers of early marriage and childbirth, family planning, safer sex/sexual harassment, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, as well as life saving skills were taught during that period. Different strategies were used in Kailali and in Kathmandu. Peer educators from each school in Kailali formed a group of 20 students, known as the youth action group (YAG). Every Friday after classes these peer educator held regular sessions for their peers on various adolescent topics. The peer educators, selected for the program were well accepted and respected, good at communication, enthusiastic, had a sound knowledge of adolescent health problems, interested in self-enhancement and charismatic.

Few said after being selected in the program they had brought positive changes in themselves like attitude towards smoking, drinking, substance abuse and safer sexual practices etc. They felt that since they were role models for others they should "practice what they preach". One peer educator said: "Maile kehi sikeko chhu bhanne phurti badhna thalyo. Bolna sakne, sikauna sakne chhamataa badhyo. Nabolne saathi laai sikaune, samasya lal garne chhamataa aayeko chha. Gopaniyata kaayam kasari garne chamata aayeko chaa. [ I am proud that I have learned something. I can now speak, have gained confidence and have acquired teaching abilities.

Even friends who are quite I have been able to teach them, solve problems, help in decision making and maintain confidentiality. Initially some peer educators had problems getting their messages across, their peers would laugh at them, tease them, would not come for meetings, some felt nervous initially talking in front of their friends. But over a period of time they overcame these obstacles and many peers joined the sessions. The peers which came for the initial sessions disseminated the message that these sessions were very informative, interesting and fun.

So gradually they gained confidence in their peers and now usually 15-20 participants (Kailali) are present for each session. In Kathmanu the usual practice is to have informal peer education sessions, but when they conduct it for their classmates in class, they do it in the presence of a teacher so that their peers would not tease them!

Besides peer education formal/informal sessions peer educators were involved in organizing various events in their schools with the help of their supervisors.

Students knew the symptoms related to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS well. They also could tell us the various ways in which these diseases are transmitted, and its prevention. Sexuality was one of the popular topics for peer education sessions discussions, as some participants said:

Some mentioned that despite knowing the risks involved having sex without protection they occasionally engaged in it though:

Males were very confident that they would never get sexually transmitted diseases, as one respondents said: "Haami laai kahile pani youn rog laghla jasto lagdaina......hami surakchit chhaun!. Tara bihe gare pacchi chahin bhanna sakinna, aba srimati ke garne ho...ke taha? [We will never get STI’s, we are safe. But after marriage well we can’t say, we can’t guarantee about the girl and her life style]

In both the places adolescents felt that besides young people, adults also should be included in the program. Both parents and teachers felt that adolescents had become more confident, made productive use of their time, after the program started.

Behind this program though, is a very dedicated and committed team who have been working day and night to make a difference in the lives of adolescence. One such committed person is .K.N Subedi, the coordinator of ‘Better Life For Youth Project’ BPMHF, in fact he is the only original member of the program.

After all adolescents and youths of today are the parents and responsible citizens of tomorrow and important resource for community or nation building, for these reasons alone, we must invest adequately in the health and other areas of life for adolescents.

HEADLINE | RECOLLECTIONS