UNICEF appeals to mainstream mental health care

UNICEF has urged the government and other stakeholders to ensure the mental health becomes part of mainstream health care services in Nepal. "UNICEF calls on government and development partners, civil society, communities and families, to contribute to the prevention, therapy, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children and young people and ensure that mental health becomes part of mainstream health care services in Nepal," said the United Nations Agency in a statement issued on the occasion...

Shops, vehicles come into operation in Valley

After the easing of lockdown in the Kathmandu Valley from Thursday, the government officials and the general public have said the individuals themselves must remain aware and cautious to avoid possible transmission of the coronavirus. "It is now the responsibility of the public or individuals to maintain social distance, use face masks and sanitizer whenever and wherever they tend to go and come out of their homes," Janak Raj Dahal, Chief District Officer, of Kathmandu, said on Thursday.

Education and livelihood for acid attack survivors: PM

The perpetrators will have their property withheld and used to compensate the survivors, along with their medical cost, the Prime Minister said while announcing that treatment would be made available at Bir and TU Teaching hospitals.

Kathmandu Valley records highest single-day tally with 576 new cases of COVID-19

In 11,144 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the last 24 hours, as many as  576 persons, 183 females and 393  males, were found with the novel coronavirus infection, read the COVID-19 national update released by the ministry on Wednesday.

Govt. offices to run in full swing with easing of prohibitory order in Valley

Chakra Bahadur Buda, spokesperson of the Home Ministry, said, “The government offices will resume 100% of their work following the ease of the prohibitory order in the Valley.”

Nepal's COVID-19 tally crosses 50,000 with 1,246 new cases

In 11,144 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the last 24 hours, as many as 1,246 persons were found with the novel coronavirus infection, informed Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson of the ministry in the daily press briefing today.

NCP Chairmen pledge to maintain party unity

The Chairmen of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', have vowed to protect the party's unity and strive for the nation's development on the basis of the lessons learned from the past.

COVID-19 lockdown batters tourism business in Bandipur

Bandipur, perhaps the main tourist spot in Tanahun district and one of the prime attractions outside the Kathmandu Valley after Chitwan and Pokhara, wears a deserted look these days. COVID-19 and the ensuing national and local lockdowns have decimated the tourism sector of the country and a desolate Bandipur bears testament to it. According to Bainsa Gurung, former chairman of the Bandipur Development Committee and current chairman of the Bandipur Market Unit of Tanahun Chamber of Commerce and Industries,...

High number of COVID-19 cases detected in Kathmandu

The number of COVID-19 cases in Kathmandu Valley is increasing day by day and it recorded 464 new cases on Wednesday. Similarly, Kathmandu remains the district with the most number of live COVID-19 cases in Nepal and it recorded 394 fresh cases on Wednesday. “Of the new 464 cases detected in the Valley, 145 are females and 319 are males, according to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP). Among 394 cases, 104 females and 290 males were detected in Kathmandu; 36 cases, 20 females and 16...

Restriction order eased in Valley

A meeting of the Chief District Officers (CDOs) of the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley Wednesday decided to ease the prohibitory order issued three weeks ago in the valley to control the spread of the COVID-19. The meeting, however, decided to give continuity to the ongoing lockdown until September 16. The decision to adopt the measures to relax the lockdown came a few hours before the prohibitory order enforced three weeks ago was to expire.

Jitiya festival fosters harmony, spreads message of love

Giving a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Jitiya festival celebrated especially by the Tharu women in the eastern belt of Tarai region, Prime Minister Oli reminded that the festivals like Jitiya have cemented unity, tolerance, harmony among the Nepalis.

NCP Chairmen hold 3-hour long discussion, prepare proposal for SC meet

The Chairmen duo are said to have prepared the proposal on the basis of the report submitted by the task force and other notable issues that were to be addressed.

COVID-19 Update: 918 recovered, 1,081 new cases, tally at 49,219

In 11,167 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the last 24 hours, as many as persons were found with the novel coronavirus infection, informed Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson of the ministry in the daily press briefing today.

Govt plans 'Integrated Child Protection' policy: Gurung

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Parbat Gurung has announced a plan to introduce an 'Integrated Child Protection' policy to give protection to orphans. The policy will protect orphans and helpless children under the direct supervision of the government. While monitoring the central office of Nepal Children's Organisation (NCO) in Naxal of the capital city on Monday, Minister Gurung said the government was pushing ahead its child protection plan as a national pride project. "Even...

Medical license exam sees high rate of failures

Nepal Medical Council (NMC) takes license exams for MBBS and BDS graduates three times a year and provides the certificate to practise medicine legally to those who get through the exams. However, the pass percentage over the years has been far from satisfactory.

PM Oli stresses psychological counselling to fight COVID-19

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday instructed the Health Ministry, concerned bodies and mental health experts to prepare immediate plan to tackle with the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people. During a meeting with psychiatrists at his official residence in Baluwatar today, Prime Minister Oli asked them to provide counseling to help people cope with fear, anxiety, distress and sadness caused by pandemic. “As the cases of anxiety and depression are progressively increasing...

Lockdown in Valley likely to be area-specific

Three Chief District Officers (CDOs) of the Kathmandu Valley Tuesday said the lockdown enforced in the Capital would get continuity by giving some conditional relaxations to begin some businesses and offices.The three CDOs of the valley separately said there is no likelihood of calling off the lockdown completely. The Administrations (DAOs), after holding further consultations with officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, may take a concrete decision to open some businesses and allow...

NRB directs BFIs to apply fixed interest rate in lending

The Nepal Rastra Bank has directed the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to maintain fixed interest rate for the loans that have at least one year or more repayment period. Amending its Unified Directives 2019, the central bank has asked the banks to maintain stable interest rates in the mobilisation of credit for more than a year’s period. However, they can opt for the adjustable interest rate if the client wishes so. This provision is applicable to all individual loans, including home...

Ambitious literacy campaign not realised even in 12 years

In the fiscal year 2008-2009, an ambitious National Literacy Campaign was launched with a target to eliminate illiteracy from Nepal in two years. However, due to the lackluster performance of the government over the years, the target has not been achieved even 12 years after it was launched. The government authorities while marking the World Literacy Day on Tuesday once again reiterated their commitment to eliminating illiteracy from the country within this year. However, considering the poor implementation...

PM Oli for creating awareness programmes to reduce pandemic impacts

At an interaction programme with psychiatrists and psychologists at the PM’s official residence in Baluwatar today, the Prime Minister viewed that the psychologists and health workers had a major role to reduce pessimism, negativity, fear and anxiety on the citizens caused due to pandemic.