Submit your Article

As old Covid-19 patients snap up scarce hospital beds, home isolation appears to be an increasingly viable option for the newly-infected.

Danphe Care, a Dillibazaar, Kathmandu-based healthcare management company, will help them do so. Started a month ago by a team doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and dietitians, it has a nine-member executive team, with another 30-35 medical personnel and experts working as advisors. Kabin Maleku, program coordinator at the center, says his team had anticipated the Covid-19 crisis and had been working on offering Covid-19 services for the past few months.

Maleku says around 80 percent of all Covid-19 patients can be treated in home isolation. “Why burden the healthcare system if you can treat yourself at home, right?” he asks. “If normal patients start occupying beds, those with severe symptoms will have to suffer.”

This realization, coupled with multiplying questions over the safety of isolation and quarantine facilities, are making more and more Covid-19 patients to opt for home isolation. For if a patient is admitted to an unmanaged and crowded isolation center, there is also a chance of their contracting other communicable diseases.

Danphe Care offers a 15-day home isolation package at Rs. 200 a day, offering support and care through virtual assistance and phone conversations as part of the package. Guidance on medical and emotional issues through daily symptoms checkups, regular intervention, medicine prescription, referral to the hospital and coordination with ambulance services when necessary, are the salient features of this package.

“We have a holistic approach to Covid care. Not only physical and mental care, we are also working on spiritual well-being of the patients under our watch,” adds Maleku.

“We categorize our patients and include in the package only those whom we can treat and monitor at their own homes,” says Dr Suyash Timalsina, medical coordinator at the center. 

On the first day, center experts conduct orientation as the patients may be ignorant of the disease and get panicky. After that, the team analyses patient health. Following an in-depth assessment, the patient’s condition is outlined. Only then do regular consultations with patients start. The patients are guided to keep themselves as well as their loved ones safe.

“If our monitoring proves inadequate, we seek help from other experts and specialist doctors,” adds Maleku. Offering diet plans, hygiene tips, yoga and meditation tips, and other practical knowledge are also part of the package.

If a patient needs hospitalization, the doctors who had been regularly following them also help them get admitted to a suitable hospital.

So who can use Dafne services? “Covid-19 patients and those who have come in contact with them,” replies Timalsina. Regular, 24/7, monitoring, he says, helps identify even minor changes in symptoms.

Having successfully monitored home isolation of over 70 patients, the center is planning to scale up to be able to treat 1,000 patients at a time. 

If you need home-isolation monitoring services, contact:

Kabin Maleku

Program Cordinator, Danphe Care

9802314742

Want to earn a little on the side while you explore your hobby? Why not take up blogging?

Outside Nepal, there are folks who are pursuing viable careers as bloggers. Some, like Harsh Agrawal from India with his award-winning blog ShoutMeLoud.com, have even become global celebrities. But professional blogging is still in its infancy in Nepal.

Ganesh Karki, who started blogging in 2008, says being a blogger at the time was something completely new. He used to write poems in Nepali and found they had a big audience online. “I started seeing it as an income source,” he says. He regularly updates contents on paniphoto.com and ujyaalopato.com and claims to earn $150-200 a month through his blogs.

Does blogging have a scope in Nepal? “If you are ready to put in some effort, it can be an additional source of income and, if you are any good, you get recognized globally,” Karki says.

Mahesh Gautam, who started blogging a year ago, runs three blogging websites—theviralstars.com, tecktruck.com, and nepalientertainment.com. On an average, he earns around Rs 10,000 a month from them. “They allow me to cover some of my monthly expenses,” he says. Of his three sites, the first two are in English while the third is in Nepali. 

Bikash Rai, another blogger at nepalitrends.com, started out by sharing his knowledge of trending topics. He says, “Blogging has scope if you can cover global topics. But, really, it can be on any topic if you are ready to work hard to popularize your blogs.”

Google AdSense is the most common (though not for blogs in Nepali) source of revenue for Nepali bloggers. You earn a certain amount when visitors click on ads on your website. 

Besides AdSense, backlink selling, and sponsored content (ads from different companies) are other viable income sources for Nepali bloggers.  

Rai says he earns Rs. 15,000 a month on average working only in his free time. But income is not fixed and depends on such factors as traffic, ads, and other sponsored content.

You can also do affiliate marketing on a commission basis as well as instant articles. “Affiliate marketing is best for tech-related blogs. For instant articles, you have to connect your website to a Facebook page,” Rai adds. 

Shankar Kapri, a blogger at meronotice.com, says he has earned $200 in two months by blogging. “The income depends on your effort and traffic,” he adds. 

How does the blogger get the generated income? Facebook makes the deposits in your bank account. Google used to pay through Western Union but has started directly depositing money in your bank account as well. Some international clients even pay through PayPal.

But as PayPal is not available in Nepal. Rai has found a way out though. He adds, “In that case, I channel my income through my friends abroad.”

“Only good traffic earns good money,” is the mantra bloggers live by. But the blogs targeting Nepali audiences find it hard to get traffic, not the least because Google ads don’t apply in the case of Nepali blogs.

And the competition is tough. “Your blogs must be unique and the very best,” says Rai. 

Lack of knowledge about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is another problem. “Many bloggers neglect SEO and their contents don’t reach target audience,” says Aakash Karki, an SEO consultant for bloggers. SEO is compulsory to rank in Google and get traffic. “When someone searches related content on Google and doesn’t find your blog, your site doesn’t get visitors, simple as that,” he says.

Nor, for that matter, are Nepalis used to the idea of blogging. “They are more into news website and largely in the dark about blogging,” says Ganesh Karki. He says most Nepali bloggers are irregulars, just like him. As his content is in Nepali and competition has increased, it is not generating the income it used to.

So there are plenty of obstacles for would-be Nepali bloggers. Right now, it appears to be a good source of additional income if you have something else going on the side. It may be a tougher sell as a full-time career option. 

On Thursday, September 3, the food delivery boys were getting ready for a busy day ahead after a week under strict lockdown. Then they got the dreaded message. Unlike what was being reported, they wouldn’t, after all, be able to make deliveries. To be able to do, they now learned, they had to get the PCR test done, which comes Rs 4,400 a pop. And even if they got the test done, it would be at least three days before they got the report. 

The government has offered next to no support for the restaurants and food delivery services. Instead, the police constantly harass them. On Aug 27, over 90 food delivery service owners and employees were arrested from various places in Kathmandu. This has discouraged established companies, but also put a big dent in the confidence of those starting out in the business.

Anita Timsina, founder of Fooddole, a Kathmandu-based food delivery service started a year ago, shares the bitter experience of her team-members being apprehended. “The way we were picked up without a warrant, it no longer felt like we were living in a democratic country,” she reminisces. Police arrested both office and field staff at Fooddole. Timsina says the police behaved with her staff as if they were criminals. She now wonders if delivering food really is a crime in Nepal.

Komal Niraula, co-founder at One-Eleven, another Kathmandu-based food delivery service started a year ago, speaks of how his startup has already had to shift to a cheaper office. They have also cut production and cut down on deliveries in light of reduced income. 

When he heard about the arrests, Niraula says he felt thoroughly discouraged as a professional. “I am particularly dissatisfied with the prohibition on the delivery of groceries. Moreover, it is not clear who is allowed to do business and who is not,” he adds. 

Sujan Rai, co-founder at Sanohaat, a food delivery service that opened up in June in Jhapa district of Eastern Nepal, says food delivery services are facing an existential crisis. “Forget rewarding us for making people’s lives easier by delivering food, grocery, and other essential stuff to their doorsteps; the government is instead arresting us,” he sighs. Nonetheless, he agrees that it is up to business-owners to ensure their services fully comply with safety measures.

Likewise, Nabin Raj Acharya, Managing Director at Mazzako Food, a Pokhara-based food and local grocery delivery service, feels highly insecure these days.

Mazzako Food had only started its services a month ago after being closed for almost three years. He says online delivery of food items with safety measures and regular monitoring is more secure than people visiting stores individually. 

“By the looks of things, the food delivery business is on the verge of collapse considering how much we have invested in it, often by taking out huge loans. And the government, instead of helping us, seems intent on making our lives harder,” he says. 

All food delivery personnel APEX talked to claimed they were following all necessary health protocols and safety measures. They are regularly taking the body temperature of staffs, making them use masks and hand sanitizers, and taking every precaution to minimize chances of infection.

So what was the reason behind the recent police action in Kathmandu? Spokesperson of the Metropolitan Police Office, SSP Sushil Kumar Yadav, says the police only acted on the administration’s directive. “Moreover, food delivery is not among essential services,” he adds.

Twenty-year-old Jack Aryal’s open admiration for Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the former leader of the decade-long Maoist insurgency, has earned him many enemies on Facebook. 

“I often post my perspectives on Prachanda on social media. No sooner do I do so, people start bombarding me with hate speech and indecent language. I don't think most of them even read what I write," says Aryal, a resident of Gorkha district. 

Aryal doesn’t get why people are so dismissive of his views when he has himself made it a habit to respectfully assess others’ opinions online. He shares his uncomfortable experience of having had to delete offensive comments to ensure his family members and relatives didn't see them. “I have been facing this kind of bullying on social media over the past 2-3 years. I don't react to most comments, but it does hurt to see yourself hated so much just because of your beliefs,” he says.

What Aryal has been facing is a kind of cyberbullying, a broad term that includes sharing rumors, threatening someone, posting sexual remarks or personal information, hate speech, and humiliating and harassing others over the internet. 

Recently, an image of a female pillion rider on a motorcycle with a public number plate went viral online. The photo of the woman wearing a backless top generated a storm of criticism. It turned out that instead of roaming around the city in the motorcycle, as many people had assumed, she was on official work while the photo was taken. She later revealed how the image has caused her enormous psychological and emotional distress. 

Similarly, popular Nepali actor Deepashree Niraula was bullied online when she questioned if the thespian Rajesh Hamal was really the Mahanayak, or the sole superstar of Nepali silver-screen. People were quick to criticize her, and began trolling and hounding her online. Many of these comments ridiculed Niraula's physical appearance.

Incidents of cyber-crimes (of which cyberbullying is a big part) in Nepal are increasing. According to the Central Cyber Bureau, in the first 13 weeks of the Nepali new year, Nepal Police had filed 968 reports/appeals associated with cyber-crimes. The last fiscal had witnessed a record 1,938 cases.

Ravi Raj Timalsina, a consultant psychiatrist based in Pokhara, cites five reasons behind why people engage in cyberbullying: Low self-esteem, history of being bullied themselves, difficulties within family life, lack of education, and tumultuous past relationships.

Timalsina says cyberbullying affects all those involved: the bullied, the bullier, as well as those who witness the act. He adds, “Those who are bullied may suffer from stress and depression, while those who bully are more likely to indulge in other offensive and criminal acts.”

Kriti Singh Bhandari, a lecturer at Nepal Law Campus, blames the state's failure to implement laws for the failure to contain cyberbullying.

Bhandari says that while the general public's complaints are likely to be kept pending, those related to famous public figures, politicians, and celebrities are rigorously pursued.

The chances of cyberbullying are especially high as people are spending a lot of time online while being confined to their homes during the lockdown.

Even as the country was in the middle of a pandemic, Hindu priests were in high demand during the recent Naag Panchami (the day of worship of snakes) and Janai Purnima (the day of wearing of holy thread). Many people wanted the priests to come to their homes and bless them on these auspicious occasions, even by braving the grave corona risk. Did the priests oblige?    

Like folks from most other professions, the priests too are caught between the fear of the pandemic and their livelihood. It’s a tough choice.

Balram Aryal, a 21-year-old priest who plies his traditional trade in Kanchanpur in far-western Nepal, is often involved in religious ceremonies at the local Shree Radhakrishna Muktinarayan Mandir. He says more and more people started coming to the temple for rituals and pooja after the end of the nationwide lockdown. “I think people visit temples when they can’t see a way out of their problems and seek divine guidance, as is happing now,” he adds.

People also sometimes summon Aryal to their homes for rituals. “Despite the pandemic, some people, especially the elderly, want to continue with their religious rituals like pooja, Graha Shanti, and so on,” he says.

Prajwal Luitel, 30, a priest in Kathmandu, has seen a slight increase in religious activities after the end of the lockdown. Yet he says that “except for most important rituals such as Nwaran [child’s naming ceremony] and funeral rites, other poojas and purans are not being performed”.

In the reckoning of Keshav Upadhyaya, 25, a practicing priest in Dang district in mid-western Nepal, the pandemic has increased people’s devotion. “Yes, I find that people do turn to God during hard times. Yet their religiosity will be tested the more the pandemic grips the country,” he says.

But Bishnu Prapanna, 40, a priest native to Kathmandu, fears the extinction of religious beliefs, activities, and cultures after witnessing major religious functions and services being put off for months on end. 

Health and safety

Priests are also abiding by certain safety measures to protect themselves and their clients from the virus. During the recent Janai Purnima, a video went viral on social media. It showed a priest, with protective face gear on, putting the sacred thread (doro) around a devotee’s wrist, but before doing so, he rubbed his hands with sanitizer. 

Priest Aryal, when asked about safety measures, says devotees without masks are not allowed into the temple. Crowds and big gatherings are also barred. 

While visiting homes to perform rituals, Aryal always wears a mask, and never eats outside. 

Luitel has now canceled all non-urgent work after the recent surge in corona cases. “I must think about my family’s safety. Unless it’s urgent, I convince my hosts to postpone the rituals they want to perform,” he says. 

Besides normal safety measures, like wearing a mask and using sanitizers, Upadhyaya takes a bath, both before and after a ritual. And Prapanna says he avoids public vehicles: “I would rather walk for two hours, than get a ride where I could possibly contract the virus.”

With or without the pandemic, Upadhyaya says religious people are always following health and safety measures. They don’t eat outside, they try to minimize their contact with others, except during ceremonies, and they maintain cleanliness. “We, the priests, do not eat junk food or meat, from where we could get bacteria and virus. And we regularly meditate to boost our immunity,” he explains.  

Going online?

If the pandemic continues, the livelihood of these priests may take a battering. This is why Prajwal Luitel is already thinking outside the box. As an alternative to going to temples or visiting people’s homes, he is now thinking of providing his services virtually. Luitel has already done a virtual pooja for one of his friend’s family during the lockdown. “It was a big success and I intend to continue with it,” he says.

Though online rituals are an alternative, not everyone has access to internet and smartphones. Nor are big rituals possible online. “In these tough times, we will all have to be a bit innovative and flexible,” Luitel says. 

A young woman in Pokhara, who chooses not to reveal her real name, but prefers to be called Aneekarma, is gradually becoming well-known for her active engagement in social work and helping those in need. 

When she was doing her +2, a massive earthquake shook Nepal to its core, leaving many suffering and in need. That is when Aneekarma, now 22, knew she had to get involved and do what she could to help. “I contacted a couple of my friends and we collected food and funds,” she remembers. They then visited villages in Rasuwa and Dhading to distribute the supplies they had collected.  

After the earthquake, helping others became an important part of her life. When she can’t be directly involved, she works as a mediator. Since the earthquake, she has been continuously linking those in need with those who can help or donate to the cause. 

Aneekarma has been doing the same now. With the country under the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has been locating people who need her help through social media, friends, and sometimes even through phone calls that she gets from random folks who have heard of her and her work. 

Aneekarma was a major helping hand in the case of Dambar Bahadur Shimkada, a poor man whose wife suffered from kidney failure. She managed to arrange Rs 150,000 for the wife’s treatment through crowd-sourcing. Aneekarma also rustled up Rs 50,000 for the family of Birenda Yadav, an India-returnee who had died while being stuck at the border during the lockdown.

Aneekarma has only just graduated with degrees in sociology and rural development from the Pokhara Multiple College. But she has been involved in different social initiatives like clean-up campaigns since her early childhood.

“During the current pandemic, I have played a role in helping people in over 15 cases,” she shares. “I believe we should all help those who are less fortunate than us. If you have the will, there’s always a way”.

Those involved in social work and helping others can often feel overwhelmed, as the work never stops. Because of this, it is important to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Aneekarma understands this. “I make sure I find some time for myself every day,” she says.  

Despite her young age, she has already gained quite a bit of experience in social work, and in the challenges involved. “Sometimes, even when we collect help for someone, getting it to the needy can be difficult. In addition, raising funds while not being affiliated to an organization can be complicated,” she adds.  

People with negative attitude are the main problem. “Maybe they’ve heard stories of how some people have disappeared with people’s money in the name of helping others,” she says. Most of the time, Aneekarma ignores her critics: “Why panic when my heart’s in the right place?”

Besides her social work, Aneekarma is also engaged in ‘What The Book Club’ in Pokhara that fosters a reading culture.

She also uses her voice to raise awareness on different social issues in her community. “I have been a part of many peaceful protests against caste-based discriminations and other social evils in Pokhara,” she explains. 

She says it is not money but willingness that is needed to help those in need. “After all, there are many ways to help,” she adds. 

Aneekarma believes many people in need are still “out of our sight”. Thus there is a need for constant vigilance “lest someone needs our urgent help.”

Singer Sophia Thapa was hounded online, mostly by Hindu extremists, after she came out with her new Teej song that discourages women from fasting for their hubbies. At the other extreme, male singer Durgesh Thapa has been in controversy for supposedly mocking women who are celebrating Teej. Before that it was the turn of veteran signer Komal Oli, who had landed in hot soup for own Teej song that said women should have the right to elope.

Should there be limits on what singers can say in their songs, or should this freedom of expression be absolute? APEX asked 10 folks from different walks of life.

Prapti Dahal, 24, housewife

I believe there should be no limits on musical expression, so long as our cultures and traditions are being respected. Singers have an obligation to represent societal norms and values; they should not try to exploit them. Moreover, songs need to have appropriate lyrics so that we can listen to them with family members without feeling uncomfortable.  

Raj Dhakal, 27, education consultant

When there are controversies over singers and their lyrics, many people argue that it is their right to freedom of speech or expression. Although I somewhat agree, and believe singers and songwriters should represent the unheard voices of those against outdated traditions, it must be done in a way that does not misuse their artistic freedoms.  

Shristi Subedi, 16, college student

In my opinion, there should be limits to what singers are allowed to say, especially when it comes to cultural beliefs and customs. Something that I cannot tolerate is when singers’ lyrics undermines the significance of our festivals and traditions by using foul language and negativity to describe them. To prevent this, there should be curbs on what singers can sing about.  

Sitaram Dahal, 25, businessman

Singers have the right to choose their lyrics and channel their performance as a creative outlet. Yet they must not forget they are role models for many. As singers are so influential, it is important that their songs carry positive messages. Therefore, I think having a censorship board to screen songs’ messages would be a good idea. 

Ashirbad Adhikari, 25, aircraft technician

If singers, by any means, have negative impact on society, it is wise to ban them. Freedom of speech/creativity is a basic right, but some are misusing that right. Especially in the case of rap lyrics, which I find vulgar and crass. I think every song should be passed through a censorship board before its release. Only then can we minimize their negative social impact. 

Dipak Acharya, 30, accountant 

Songs have the ability to reach and be heard by thousands of listeners, including children. If the song is vulgar or uses profanity, it can negatively impact children. Because of this, people should discourage the popularity of songs that spread negativity about our religion, culture, or traditions. For me, it would be best to start a censorship board to monitor and check all songs before they are released. 

Shova Magar, 28, social activist

While creating songs, it is important that singers choose their words carefully. The use of vulgar or unrefined phrases is not necessary when writing lyrics. I believe songs can have long term impact on listeners, especially children who do not know better, so it is vital to create suitable lyrics that obey certain societal norms.

Nerajan KC, 21, computer programmer

Nepal is a democratic country, where freedom of speech and expression is a right. This applies to singers and the songs they create. There should thus be no limits on the actual act of singing. But I do think singers should be aware of their content and make sure it does not disrespect any one’s culture or way of life. 

Shiva Pariyar, singer

Music has no boundary. However, singers should be careful about the impact they have on their audiences and do their best not to disturb social norms. Limits on singing can be determined by the people themselves, as they are the ones who decide whether or not a song will be a hit. People simply need to ignore a song and discourage others to listen to it if it contains a socially troubling message. 

Prabisha Adhikari, singer

Of course I think there should be limits on the choice of words for songs. In my opinion, if they do not abide by our societal norms and values, such songs should not be allowed to become public.

When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Nepal, the government had no option but to follow other countries and close down its schools and cancel students’ remaining examinations. Most of the lockdown measures have since been lifted, but schools remain closed, leaving students stuck in their homes.   

Aarav Tandukar, a 9-year-old from Kathmandu, misses being at school and around his friends. He says, “At home, I enjoy playing games on my gadgets, but my parents won’t allow me to play for long. Yet when I try to read a book, I get bored, and that’s when I really miss my school.” 

Srijan Khatiwada, a Grade X student from Inaruwa, explains that online classes are not compelling enough for him. He prefers being in the classroom, and learning face to face.   

Some schools have started online classes but many doubt the viability of these classes. So far, anecdotal evidence suggests online classes have not been very effective for Nepali students, deepening the doubts about this new form of “learning”. 

Sujan Shrestha, a psychologist and faculty member at St. Xaviers College, says school closure has interrupted the process whereby children learn by observing and interacting with teachers and friends. “Live demonstrations and face to face teaching is always the best. As children’s attention span is limited, it is normal for them to get bored when they have to sit in front of a screen for long periods. Plus, staring at a screen is never healthy for children,” he says.

Children’s capacity to socialize is also being impacted, Shrestha points out. “In school, they get a chance to interact with both their peers and teachers, allowing them to build those necessary socializing skills. Losing this opportunity can make children aloof and decrease their capacity to navigate social situations and settings,” he adds. 

Bidhyanath Koirala, an educationist, criticizes the way in which both the government and teachers organizations are handling the situation. He also fears children who are in their homes the majority of the day will get addicted to electronics. “If children are exposed to videos or images that are unsuited for their age groups and thus harm well-being, who will take responsibility?” he questions.  

He claims the government and education system are not well-equipped to handle the loss of an academic school year. “When old students whose studies have now been disrupted resume their studies, the education system will have to accommodate both them as well as the new students,” Koirala says. “This won’t be easy, on the system as well as on the students.” 

Separately, as children are being forced indoors, the feeling of being caged is growing. “Many children are getting angry, irritated, and violent,” adds psychologist Shrestha. “It is the parents’ duty to reassure their children at this difficult time, and help them understand that what they are feeling is perfectly normal, while also suggesting ways to calm those anxieties.”

Psychologists stress the importance of children engaging in creative activities, such as art projects, music, and learning new cognitive skills, while they are confined in their homes.  

According to UNICEF, more than a billion students are still out of school due to lockdowns around the world. But over 70 countries have announced plans to reopen schools and hundreds of millions of students have already returned to their schools in recent weeks. And yet, for Nepali students, there is no clear path back to their classrooms anytime soon.