Dr. Niraj Shrestha’s Blog

i have been inducted to rotary club of swayambhu recently. It has been doing good work in different areas of need in society notably health,education, awareness programs.hopefully i can contribute in few of areas.

Out of the 32 students who passed SLC with me from my school, only 12 remain in Nepal. The rest have gone to what students now call their dream destinations—the US, the UK, Canada and other Western countries. Even the ones who are here are in the process of leaving. Not very pleasing news, I know. Sadly, it is the grim reality which surrounds us all. And just like me, there are many young Nepalis whose heart aches every time they learn about a friend leaving for the so-called greener side of the world. As much as it is sad to see them go, sometimes I think it is the best decision they have made. What with the way politicians are running the country, it won’t be long before all Nepalis die of starvation.

The number of students flying overseas each year is alarming. Students are flooding consultancies like there is no tomorrow. A significant decrease in the population of youth in the country has been noticed. Youth are the future of the nation, who take the country forward. When there is no youth, who will be responsible for the country’s progress? We all know better than to count on our old-age policy makers who care more about which car they ride than to draft a proper constitution. Gagan Thapa, a youth leader, won the highest number of votes in the recent Nepali Congress CWC elections. His win is evidence of the fact that young leaders are now being considered seriously and given a chance. But is one Gagan Thapa enough to take the country forward? Clearly, the answer is no. We all need more young leaders who will steer the country in a new direction.

What many of us youngsters like to do is complain about everything that is wrong with the nation. When someone else is in the hot seat, it is easy to criticise them. However, when you are placed in the same seat, you start perspiring. The urge to go to a foreign land is so strong you start seeing flaws in things where there are none.

Nepali parents are spending lots of money for their children’s foreign education. Many who cannot afford to do so are taking hefty loans, some even selling their properties for their kid’s bright future. But is the pasture really greener on the other side? They say America is the land of opportunities where anyone can turn their dreams into a reality, but how many of the students’ dream has turned true is yet to be seen. The stories of students quitting college, sleeping on the streets, doing drugs are heard of frequently. Personally, I believe the reason for students flocking abroad is to escape their parents’ watchful eye rather than the political situation of the country. Nevertheless, some do return after completing their education which is commendable. However, they are very few and far in between.

If this trend of hurrying overseas first in the name of studies and then seeking political asylum once there continues, a day will surely come when Nepal will be a land where finding young people is as rare as finding honest politicians.

World Report
www.thelancet.com Vol 375 June 12, 2010 2063

When Badri Shrestha, a resident of Salyan, western Nepal, took his 13-year-old son with a  fractured leg to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Tribhuvan University—Nepal’s best treat ment centre—at the end of March, he expected his son to receive excellent care. He was wrong. Pro testers had shut all hospital services, including the emergency department and he and his injured son had to return home. He had never thought that the country’s premier hospital could turn into a battleground and would not provide refuge to people who are ill. Badri’s experience is a growing concern in Nepal, where strikes and protests stemming from political clashes are becoming more common. The scu? e at the IOM began when the campus chief and Students’ Union accused the university’s Dean Arun Sayami of taking bribes worth US$150 000 and leaking questions of a postgraduate entrance exam held on March 13, 2010. In the ensuing clash between police and protestors 15 doctors including the campus chief were rounded up. Following the incident, the Students’ Union, Nepal Residents Doctors’ Association, and Nepal University Teachers’ Association continued their strikes, closing all hospital services and demanding the cancellation of exams and resignation of the dean. However, Sayami has denied all the charges levied against him and called the accusations an outright political struggle.

Observers say that the situation at IOM is because of the politicisation of both the admin istration and the student body. The main political parties vying for power on a national stage—Maoists, Nepali Congress, and Communist Party of Nepal (CPN)—have their proxies at play at the institution. The dean is appointed on behalf of the Communist Party of Nepal’s quota and the campus chief is a Maoist appointee. The protesting Students’ Union, Nepal University Teachers Association, and Nepal Resident Doctors’ Association are perceived to have a loose a? liation to the Nepali Congress Party. “Thus the clash truly represents the collusion of main political powers”, notes a Nepali journalist who wished to remain anonymous.

Manoj Kumar Poudel, president of Students’ Union of IOM, says: “We have been suggesting [to the] dean to develop a transparent and stringent mechanism of conducting exams since last year but he always turned a deaf ear to our demands.” “Even this time the dean was not heeding our demands; he thought he has enough support to antagonise us, as CPN [Communist Party of Nepal], which appointed him the dean, is at the helm of government now.” This incident, however, is not the ? rst episode of political mobilisation within a medical institution. Just a couple of months ago, Bir Hospital, the nation’s oldest hospital, was crippled for more than 2 weeks by an allegedly politicised protest that deprived thousands of patients from getting health services. It all began about a year ago when the Maoist Government was toppled and the CPN-led government came to power. The new government immediately sacked the then chairman of hospital development committee and replaced him with its loyal appointee.

A resident doctor at the hospital who wished to remain anonymous says: “Incensed by that incident the hospital employees’ union, which has an a? liation to Maoists’ party, was waiting for the right time to strike.” “When resident doctors announced a strike pressing for its demands of upliftment of hospital services and residents facilities, they [the hospital employees’ union] barged in and kindled the protest with their politicised campaign. They cashed in on residents’ protest by joining hands with them and tried to ful? l their Politics and corruption mar health care in Nepal Political appointments to universities and hospitals and allegations of corruption have led to clashes and the closure of health services in post-con? ict Nepal. Sharan Prakash Sharma reports.

Bir Hospital was closed for more than 2 weeks after an allegedly politically motivated protest broke out “Some tangible health improvements have certainly occurred after reconciliation between the Maoists and other political parties.”