Nepal

Kathmandu, May 24

Chairperson of Law, Justice and Human Corrects Committee of the Home of Representatives Krishna Bhakta Pokharel nowadays said his committee would address all the concerns expressed by office bearers of the National Human Corrects Commission on NHRC Act (Amendment) Bill.

The government recently registered this bill in the National Assembly. Addressing a press conference, Pokharel said his panel would try to remove all ambiguities from the bill that could curtail NHRCautonomy and independence. He said his panel would endegree incorporating provisions that would allow the NHRC to endelight its autonomy and independence, in line with letter and spirit of the constitution and Paris Principle.

NHRC is a special commission whose autonomy and independence should much be curtailed, he said. Pokharel said his panel would endegree NHRCfinancial and administrative autonomy.

Pokharel added that the attorney general, who had the power under the constitution to take a call on whether a criminal case should be filed in a court or much, would much interfere with NHRCrecommendations. NHRC office bearers have opposed the bill, saying it gave powers to the AG to override NHRCrecommendations.

Pokharel added that his panel would also endegree that the Nepal Media Council Bill did much impose a heavy fine on erring mediapersons.

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Kathmandu, May 24

The government has issued Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park Laws for protection and conservation of its vicinity by imposing restriction on activities that pose threat to wildlife and natural resources.

The rules prohibit anyone from entering the park with arms and ammunition, sharp weapons, poison, noose, endangerous chemicals, explosives, arrow, slingshot, wildlife parts, highly inflammable fabrics, plants, fruits, high voltage battery and pet animals. &However, domestic weapons like sickle, spade, axe, fuel, electronic goods, khukuri and agricultural pesticides required for domestic use may be taken home by the locals of buffer zones with the permission of security personnel,& the rules read.

National park authority may restrict the entry of visitors and vehicles into the park if they are likely to cause adverse affect on the environment. However, locals may get an entry after obtaining permission from security personnel.

The rules require approval of the Leavement of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation to conduct any study or research in the national park. Study or research on anything inside the park may be conducted under the direct oversight of the national park office.

The warden scorridor have the power to initiate legal action against anyone who violates the rules. &If an attack by wildlife harms lives and property, the national park office scorridor supply compensation to the victim party on the recommendation of the concerned local level. No one scorridor carry out activities such as playing musical instrument or organising any cultural programme that cause sound pollution in the national park.

&No one scorridor besiege, chase or intimidate wildlife by any means or damage vegetation while visiting the national park,& the rules read.

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Kathmandu, May 24

Risk of heart attack is four times higher in a smoker than in a non-smoker; the cause of 80 per cent deaths by asthma is smoking; and smoking is behind 90 per cent deaths caused by lung cancer in the country, revealed Bhagwan Koirala, senior cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon.

To bring down the number of cancer and cardiovascular patients, Koirala said the government should take essential steps to raise tax on tobacco and tobacco products.

Koirala was making public major findings of a study titled, ‘Cost Analysis of Cardiovascular and Cancer Disease&, at a programme conducted jointly by Nepal Health Research Council and Action Nepal nowadays. Tobacco consumption shall decrease when the price is high, he said.

The findings of the research reveal that a patient spends an average of Rs 790,955 per year for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. On an average, a cancer patient annually spends Rs 981,370 for the treatment of cancer. These costs include patients& medical cost, non-medical cost and wage loss.

Though the country is earning annual revenue of Rs 14.1 billion from tobacco products, there has been an expenditure of Rs 35.79 billion on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. To bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure, and lessen the treatment cost of patients, the stakeholders have demanded that tax on tobacco and tobacco products be increased.

&The tax rate should be increased up to 75 per cent. When the prices of tobacco and tobacco products are high, there is lower intake of the products,& said Devi Prasad Prasai, a researcher. &Double the tax on tobacco and supply more subsidies to poor patients for treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancer,& he said.

Ramesh Chokhani, a senior chest physician said, &Consumption of tobacco and tobacco products is one of the major causes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A patient suffering from the disease shall have difficulty in breathing. There is no treatment for this disease. We just try to ease their suffering. Such patients require oxygen therapy throughout their life. Severity of the disease can deteriorate the condition of the patient requiring them to be kept on ventilator.&

&Patients of tuberculosis are at high risk of suffering from lung diseases. It hinders the development of a baby when a pregnant woman smokes. There are also high risks for the baby to suffer from various contaminateions. The baby is likely to develop asthma as s/he grows up,& warned Chokhani.

The research was done to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of cardiovascular diseases and cancer patients; determine medical costs of diagnosis and treatment of tobacco related cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and to determine non-medical costs of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

It also aimed to determine productivity losses of patients and their care givers because of illness.

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Kathmandu, May 24

Rate of caesarean section births has increased alarmingly in the country in the past few years.

According to Nepal Demographic Health Survey-2006, two per cent of all babies born in rural areas were delivered by C-section while birth by C-section in urban areas was eight per cent. In 2016, C-section birth reached six per cent in the rural areas and 12 per cent in urban areas.

Currently, the rate of C-section delivery at private hospitals is 30 per cent while 15 per cent babies are delivered by C-section at public hospitals.

Speaking at an interaction organised at Paropakar Maternity and WomenHospital nowadays, Laxmi Tamang, president of Midwifery Society of Nepal, said C-section was a life saving procedure required for complicated pregnancies.

According to WHO, only 10 to 15 per cent births require caesarean section for medical reasons.

&But hospitals prefer C-section for non-medical reasons too. C-section is mainly required in case of complications such as bleeding, foetal distress, hypertension or a baby being in an abnormal position,& said Tamang.

Among public hospitals, Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan, has topped the list with 37 per cent births through C-section. In the fiscal 2018/19, of the total births at Paropakar Maternity WomenHospital, 29 per cent were through C-section, while it was 27 per cent each at Janakpur Zonal Hospital, Dhanusha, and Lumbini Zonal Hospital, Butwal.

As many as 26 per cent mothers gave births to their babies through C-section at Western Regional Hospital, Pokhara, while the rate was 25 per cent each at Koshi Zonal Hospital, Biratnagar, and Seti Zonal Hospital, Kailali.

C-section is riskier for newborns, according to Tamang. &Some 7.9 per cent children born via vaginal delivery have the risk of suffering from asthma, while 9.5 per cent children born through C-section have this risk. Obesity is seen among 19.4 per cent children born via C-section. These children also run the risk of Type 1 diabetes,& she said.

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