Nepal

Kathmandu, September 16

Although the number of dengue cases is rising across the country, a large chunk of the population lacks awareness of the disease and the preventive measures to be taken to stay safe, according to a research.

The research conducted by Nepal Health Research Council on 660 people in Chitwan, Dhading, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Nuwakot and Dhunche in 2017-18 showed that only 13 per cent people had adopted preventive measures against the disease.

From among the respondents, only 16 per cent living in the hills have heard of dengue, while 53 per cent of people in the plain areas have heard of the disease.

The research revealed that the level of awareness is very low among the general public. &To help prevent the spread of this disease, it is necessary to make people aware about the need to destroy mosquitoes,& said Meghnath Dhimal, chief research officer at Nepal Health Research Council.

&A nationwide campaign should be launched to control the dengue outbreak. Every citizen should be made aware about the disease,& said Ishan Gautam, associate professor of entomology at Tribhuvan University, who also works at the Natural History Museum.

Dengue causing mosquitoes should be killed using natural methods. We should not delay in adopting measures to destroy mosquitoes, their eggs and larvae. The breeding grounds of mosquitoes should be destroyed, said Dhimal during a press meet organised in the capital.

Researchers at the council have said that climate change and the consequent rise in temperature have contributed to the sudden rise in the number of dengue cases in the country. &Urbanisation, overpopulation and local and global changes are to blame for the rise in the number of dengue patients,& added Dhimal.

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Kathmandu, September 16

The Embassy of Israel in Nepal, in collaboration with Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Dhulikhel Hospital and Siddhi Memorial Foundation, conducted a weeklong programme on women and children health at Dhulikhel Hospital and Siddhi Memorial Foundation.

Five senior doctors obstetrician and gynaecologist, neonatologist and radiologist from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre conducted workshops. Several medical equipment were also donated to the hospitals to improve health services.

A closing ceremony of the weeklong programme was organised in the capital today.

Speaking during the event, Upendra Yadav, deputy prime minister and minister of Health and Population, said it was not only about the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, but also about strengthening relations at the peoplelevel.

Minister Yadav said that women should get proper health care and nutritious food right from their childhood.

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KATHMANDU:Indra Jatra, known as Yenyain Nepal Bhasa, one of the biggest festivals celebrated by the denizens of Kathmandu formally ends today.

The eight-day long festival will conclude today after Ya-Sin(Indradhoj Linga), the ceremonial pole which was erected in Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu on the first day of the festival (September 10) is pulled down. This ceremony is known as Ya-Sin Kwathalegu.

After pulling down of the Ya-Sin, the wooden pole will be taken to the confluence of Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers.

Indra Jatra is annually celebrated by the locals of Kathmandu Valley in the honour of Indra, King of Heaven and the God of Rain and Harvest, as per the Hindu mythology. Indra Jatra represents the culture, history and legends of Kathmandu Valley.

NepalLiving Goddess Kumari is carried on a chariot on the main day of Indra Jatra festival, in Kathmandu, on Friday, September 13, 2019. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

The festival is also marked by the chariot procession of Living Goddess Kumari, along with the chariots of Ganesh and Bhairav. A large crowd gathered at Basantapur to pay their reverence to the living goddess and to cheer in the festivities.

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Kathmandu, September 16

Federation of Nepali Journalists issued a press release condemning the arrest of nine journalists, including its secretary and central committee members who were held from the premises of Radio Nepal inside Singha Durbar today after their talk with the Radio Nepal administration failed.

FNJ office bearers had gone to hold dialogue with Radio Nepal administration seeking reinstatement of three journalists — Prakash Bahadur Bam, Chakra Kunwar and Sunita Rawal — who were working for Radio Nepal Dipayal Transmission for years, but were ‘arbitrarily& sacked by Radio Nepal administration.

Among the arrested journalists are FNJ Secretary Ram Prasad Dahal, FNJ centre committee members Yam Birahi, Janmadev Jaisi, Min Bam, FNJ Doti Chapter Chair Yogendra Balayar and other journalists Ajay Babu Siwakoti, Dilip Paudel, Prakash Bahadur Bam and Chakra Kunwar.

These journalists were arrested from Radio Nepal premises in Singha Durbar when some of the them tried to padlock the office after their talks with Executive Director of Radio Nepal Suresh Kumar Karki failed.

FNJ said journalists were arrested by police from the premises of Radio Nepal while they were returning to their offices after a failed negotiation with Radio Nepal administration.

FNJ also objected to heavy deployment of security personnel on the premises of Radio Nepal during the talks today. FNJ said arrest of those journalists, who were holding talks to resolve the working journalists& problems, was a violation of labour rights and freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Nepali Congress and its parliamentary party also issued a press release condemning the arrest of journalists.

Stating that journalism was the foundation of democracy, NC parliamentary party said NC would always stand in favour of independent free press. The NC party and its parliamentary party demanded reinstatement of the sacked journalists.

FNJ central committee member Yam Birahi said Radio Nepal Dipayal Transmission Centre sacked journalists, who had worked for 13 to 14 years , without giving them a chance to be heard.

&FNJ is fighting for the sacked journalists as they are victims of arbitrary action of Radio Nepal,& Birahi said and added that the sacked journalists had staged a sit-in in Dipayal for almost two weeks, but they came to Kathmandu after their grievances were not addressed.

&Radio Nepal administration sacked these journalists to recruit the ruling partyloyalists,& Birahi added. He said talks with Radio Nepal failed today as the executive director of Radio Nepal refused to reinstate the sacked journalists.

The arrested journalists were later released from custody in the evening.

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