Kathmandu, Mar. 22: The Dhading District Hospital at Dhadingbesi, headquarters of Dhading district, which was itself sick has undergone a complete transformation at present, thanks to the Primary Health Service Project (PHSP) of the German Cooperation Agency GTZ.
The hospital has now been renovated and equipped with modern health facilities and gadgets with the financial assistance of the public health services project on the special initiatives of medical superintendent of the hospital and chief of the district health office Dr. Rajendra Pant.
Spread over 13 ropanis land, the 15-bed hospital has now been equipped with a modern x-ray machine and other equipment in the current fiscal year.
The equipment costing nearly Rs 6 million were provided by the Primary Health Service Project.
The hospital building which was decrepit and filled with cobwebs as recently as a year ago has been renovated and refurbished with financial assistance from the Physical Assets Management Project (PAMP) of the GTZ. Wiring has been carried out inside the entire building and electricity has been restored to the hospital.
The project has also provided Rs 100,000 for the future renovation of the hospital. Similarly, the Hospital Development Committee has committed Rs 20,000 and the District Development Committee Rs 30,000.
We have created a reserve fund of Rs 150,000 from the financial assistance for the renovation and maintenance of the hospital in future. The interest accruing from the reserve fund would be used in carrying out renovation works, medical superintendent Dr. Rajendra Panta told RSS.
With the renovation and modernisation of the hospital facilities has ended the orgy for the people of Dhading of travelling to Bharatpur and Kathmandu for even general operations.
More than 100 complicated and general operations have been successfully carried out at the hospital in the past one year with the modernisation of the hospital facilities and with the addition of more modern equipment.
Such was the condition of the hospital in the past that doctors had to use and re-use the same surgical gloves a number of times operating on patients due to the lack of surgical gloves. But the problem no more remains and complicated surgeries are also performed at the hospital now-a-days, according to Dr. Pant.
The hospital might be well-equipped now. That is fine but that is not enough to take pride. Although the hospital has postings for three doctors, five staff nurses, one radiographer and one lab technician, only one doctor and a staff nurse are providing services there now.
Says Dr. Pant, “the district hospital can function in full swing and improve on its quality of health services if the government only takes care to fill up the vacant posts at the hospital”.
In the meantime, Dr. Pant has been successful in convincing the local bodies, intellectuals, political leaders and political party workers on the need of a long-term health policy for the district. As a result, a long-term five-year health plan has been worked out for the district.
The draft district health plan has been sent to the ministry of health for its approval. The district plan is to be implemented as part of the ninth five year plan and His Majesty’s Government’s long-term health policy.
A budget of Rs 170 million has been allocated for implementation of the plan prepared over one year’s period with the financial assistance of His Majesty’s Government and the primary health service project. The district health plan also incorporates such health services as oral and dental health care, mental health, environmental sanitation and professional health care services.
The district health office has also been conducting various training for the benefit of the paramedics working at different health service institutions in the district. It has also constructed a number of public toilets and has been conducting public health education programmes in different parts of the district.
Bhadrapur, Mar. 22: The CPN-UML agitation steering committee other day picketed the district education office to protest against the plight of the educational sector and its ‘congressisation’.
The picketing which started in the morning and obstructed office works concluded at 2 p.m.
On the occasion, CPN-UML Jhapa district committee secretary Devendra Dahal said that the government could not provide relief to the people and the change of government would not effect their agitation.
Various other CPN-UML leaders also expressed their views on the occasion.
In this context, officiating head of the district education office Tej Nath Bhandari said that as the group resorting to sit-in locked both the main gate and the main door, it had become impossible for the employees to enter the office. The functioning of the office was thus affected.
Likewise, the nine leftists group picketed the Land Revenue Office at the district headquarters for one hour to draw the attention of the government towards fulfilment of their 34-point demand.
On the occasion, Mechinagar Mayor Rabin Koirala said that the present government should not delay in expediting matters that concern the people.
Likewise in Nepalgunj, CPM-UML Banke district committee yesterday staged a sit-in at the district education office. The sit-in which was resorted to protest against various anomalies including lawlessness seen the educational sector began at 11 a.m. and ended at 1 p.m.
Meanwhile, the twelfth district convention of Nepal National Free Students Union held here recently has constituted a 13-member district committee with Ratna Bahadur Khatri as the chairman.
Kiran Dhakal is the vice-chairman, Shiromani Dhital secretary, Ramesh Gautam joint secretary and Ratna R.C. treasurer of the newly constituted district committee while its members are Yashoda Dhakal, Abdul Khan, Mani Rimal, Nilkantha Malla, Bheem Bhandari, Smriti Sapkota and Ashok K.C.
Kathmandu, Mar. 22: Royal Nepalese Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Rajeshwar Acharya, inaugurated an art exhibition organised by artist Rolf A. Klenter in Shanghai, China on recently, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Beijing.
On the occasion, ambassador Acharya said that art transcends national borders and geographical boundaries. He added that the exhibition has added a further stone in the historical cultural ties between Nepal and China.
Stating that Nepalese artist Araniko and Buddhist monks and travellers Fa Yan and Xuan Zhang have contributed greatly in keeping the cultural bondage between Nepal and China alive, he said that Kluenter’s work has helped to continue the tradition.
Speaking on the occasion, artist Kluenter expressed his love and affection towards Nepal which he said was his second home.
According to an embassy press release, Rolf A. Kluenter’s paintings made of Nepalese paper and colours were displayed during the exhibition sponsored by Hilton Shanghai, Royal Nepal Airlines, Shanghai and the Hoke Art Gallery.
A group of Nepalese people and students also gave a small performance on the occasion. The press release said besides Chinese artists and journalists, a number of people from other countries were also present on the occasion.
Kathmandu, Mar. 22: The second general meeting of the service committee for Nepalese domiciled abroad held recently in Damam, Saudi Arabia has requested His Majesty’s Government to take initiative towards bringing an end to the mistreatment and injustice meted out to Nepalese working there.
The committee constituted with a view to extending necessary support to Nepalese labourers working in the gulf region including Saudi Arabia, has expressed sadness over the indifference on the part of women’s and human rights organisations with respect to the torture, rape, manhandling and inhuman behaviour meted out to Nepalese women working as housemaids in the region.
It has asked His Majesty’s Government to rescue such women and repatriate them safely.
Even though His Majesty’s Government has imposed a ban on Nepalese women going to the gulf region for employment, the traffic has not yet been stopped completely.
The committee, issuing a press release, referred to the widespread instances of torture, disappearances, framing on false charges and non-payment of remuneration by employers and also the tendency on the part of Nepalese agents to send Nepalese labourers by cheaper flights to wrong destinations thereby leaving them in the lurch.
Meanwhile in Rautahat, Vice-Chairman of local Dipahi Village Development Committee (VDC) Harischandra Jaiswal has filed a complaint against the VDC chairman Ram Biswas Raya Yadav alleging him of misappropriation of hefty sum of money in a deal the VDC signed with the plan international, an INGO.
Chautara, Mar. 22: Bajra Foundation Nepal and the Netherlands jointly organised a month-long health camp at various village development committees of Sindhupalchok district.
Four Dutch and two Nepalese doctors are providing their services at the camp. The camp which started from ward no. 2 Phalate of Bahrabise is scheduled to end by the third week of April.
According to foundation president Ramkaji Paudel, pregnant women and patients suffering from epilepsy, mental disease and leprosy are being given check-ups at the camp and drugs distributed free.
There is also a programme to impart general health training to local people’s representatives, women, health workers, teachers and students at places covered by the camp. The aim is also to ensure participation of local Shamans in the training and motivate people to rush patients who cannot be properly diagnosed to a health post.
Meanwhile in Terhathum, fifty disabled children under 15 years old were provided free treatment services at a day-long health check-up camp for the disabled children organised at Myanglung bazar, the headquarters of Terhathum district recently.
The health camp was jointly organised by the Orthopaedic Hospital, Banepa and Nepal Red Cross Society, Terhathum branch.
A four-member technical team headed by Dr. Krishna Gurung of the Orthopaedic hospital, Banepa, provided free treatment services to the children. Medicines were also distributed free of cost on the occasion.
On the occasion some physically disabled children were referred to the B.P. Koirala institute of health sciences, Dharan, for further treatment.
Nepalgunj:About 1,300 savings and loan cooperatives have been launching income generating schemes across the country.
This was disclosed at the conclusion of a four-day book-keeping and management training organised by Subham Saving and Credit Cooperative in collaboration with the Nepal Savings and Loan Cooperative Association.
It is estimated that investments of over Rs. 8 billion have been made through such cooperatives throughout the country.
Some 350 cooperatives in 45 districts are affiliated to the association and some 20 thousand groups are involved in this field.
Such cooperatives have been running income generating schemes since 2045 B.S., it is learnt.
Lamjung:A tourism information centre has been set up at Ward No. 9, Nayu of Dhanpokhara VDC on the initiatives of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Ilaka office, Bhujung.
It is learnt the tourism information centre has been established with the objective of promoting village tourism in the north-western part of the district. The centre would keep a record of tourists’ passports, scrutinize them and inform them about the ethno-cultural heritage of the area.
Kathmandu, March 22:Radisson Hotels & Resorts now has a new “brand identity”. The paintbrush “signature” complete with a fluorescent slash underlining it is symbolic of Radisson’s vitality and optimism for the future. Another notable change is that the group has been renamed “Radisson Hotels and resorts” to emphasise the importance of its operations in the leisure segment, its press release said.
The brand image on Radisson was changed on the basis of “public opinion” that the logo needed to adopt a more contemporary, stylized look. Radisson, a division of the Carlson Group that also owns the Regent, Country Inns and TGIF brands, has grown spectacularly establishing itself as a major global presence.
The change in signature is backed by a very significant revamp of their service standards which is very personalised.
Radisson now has 400 properties in 53 countries.
Radisson is trying to put on a fresh face to draw arrention to its growing blobal structure and new commitment to resort operations as well as to the group “genuine hospitality” philosophy.
Kathmandu, March 22:Sabala Gramin Kendra (SGK) Tehrathum and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) have signed an agreement to install Small Hydro-Power Projects or peltric sets at Paudhak VDC Ward No 4 and Oyakjung VDC Ward No. 1 and a grinding mill at Oyakjung VDC Ward No. 4 in the district.
As per the agreement, CIDA will make available Rs 2,259,198 for the projects.
SGK president Surya Subedi, CIDA representative Carla Hogan Ruffelds and programme coordinator Ranju Malla Dhakal signed the agreement.
The project will supply electricity to 140 houses and the mill will serve more than 400 houses in Oyakjung and Jaljale VDCs.
The remainingsumof Rs 249,400 will be borne by the users. The project will be completed at a total cost of Rs 2,506,598.
Women will bear the responsibility for implementation of the project which has been named the women-run rural energy programme, according to SGK president Subedi.
Nepalgunj, March 22: The banke district cricket association is going to organise the “Midwest Regional Level Under-17 Cricket Selection Tournament” here from April 7-10.
The best players of the tournament to be participated in by cricket teams from Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet and Dang district would be selected for the national level cricket tournament in Kathmandu and those selected from the national tournament would be included in the Nepalese team taking part in cricket series taking place in Pakistan in July.
According to the Banke district cricket association, an organising committee has been constituted under the chairmanship Ram Kumar Tandon and a tournament management committee under the convenorship of Sunil Singh Hamal for this purpose.