Teku lab scrambles to handle mounting COVID-19 cases

Bharati Shrestha was almost asleep when her phone rang at 11 pm. She checked her phone and it was from Teku Laboratory. Shrestha, who lives in Hattigauda, was scared at first and did not dare to open the message. She had never given her swab at the Teku Laboratory. A lot of things came to her mind, but she went to sleep anyway. The next morning, she showed the message to her daughter, an 11th grader. Her daughter also told her the report was from Teku and asked her not to open it. She asked, “The...

Senior citizens deprived of geriatric services

The world is celebrating the International Day of Older People with the theme “Year of Nurse and Midwife” focusing on the contribution of health professionals during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. The slogan of this year is “Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age & Ageing.” As the senior citizens are the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, the role of healthcare workers in contributing to the health of older persons is valuable. 

‘Visit docs to avoid confusion between COVID-19 and flu’

Mona KC, 45, suffered from cough and her body temperature increased for two consecutive days. When she also started sneezing, she feared she might have contracted the novel coronavirus. Similar symptoms were also noticed in her son for a few days. Then, both of them decided to isolate themselves and stayed separately from their eight-member family in Anamnagar, Kathmandu. At first, she thought it was a coronavirus infection but later she concluded it could be a seasonal flu. Their symptoms disappeared...

Getting citizenship hard for street children

Article 11(4) of the Constitution has a provision that allows children whose parents are unknown to obtain citizenship by descent only if they can produce proof that the whereabouts of their parents are unknown. But the law specifies that such citizenship applicants should have a legal custodian, foster parents, or orphanage vouch for their parentless status. This provision does not apply to street children.

Bhaktapur local govts working hard to contain virus

Local representatives are quite worried as the COVID-19 cases have continued to rise in Bhaktapur district in the past one month. At least 15 per cent of the cases involve local people without any travel history hinting at the surge of local transmission in the district. So far, 456 people have been infected in the district. Eighty-five per cent diagnosed with the virus are from outside the district. Madhyapur Thimi Municipality has the largest number of infections at 200 as per the infection record...

Landslides, floods claim 254 lives this monsoon season

Landslides have been a major cause of deaths this season with rains that still continue in different parts of the country. At least 54 districts have witnessed damages of property and human loss and 254 people have died since the onset of pre-monsoon and then monsoon this year. Jugal Gaunpalika of Sindhupalchowk witnessed the worst landslide on August 14, which killed 33 lives while six people are still missing. Some 152 people were injured, out of which 20 per cent are still receiving treatment...

Thimi locals stay indoors amid surging COVID-19 cases

Residents of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality on Sunday woke up to empty roads and deserted public places, including temples and rest houses,  as the local government imposed a strict lockdown after the cases of COVID-19 continued to surge in the Kathmandu Valley.

Local leaders in drive to conserve Madhyapur Thimi monuments

After the devastating earthquake in 2015, the cultural and historical sites of Madhyapur Thimi are quietly getting a facelift thanks to the efforts of the local body in the reconstruction of archaeological and historical heritages.

Burning crop residues poses risk to life, climate: Study

Farmers in many parts of the country set fire to cultivated fields to clear weeds and waste before planting a new crop, but experts have warned that the practice is highly unsustainable as it produces a large amount of pollutant black carbon particles and impairs fertility of the soil.

Nepal on track to double tiger population by 2022

Every year, July 29 is observed as International Tiger Day across the globe to raise awareness about the declining number of tigers and make commitments and efforts to save them from going extinct. This year, the Day was observed with the theme – Tiger Conservation for Ecotourism Promotion – focusing on the vital role that tigers play in not just benefitting ecosystems and forests but also in promoting local economies by acting as tourist attractions.