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Located between China and India, Nepal ranks 108th out of 180 countries in the Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index (CPI), a very unenviable position compared to neighbors like Bhutan (26th), the Maldives (93rd) and India (93rd). What offers us a little bit of solace is a relatively better position than other neighbors, namely Sri Lanka (115th), Pakistan (133rd), Bangladesh (149th) and Afghanistan (162nd).

In my reading, a lack of transparency and open-access data policy is mainly to blame for a poor showing vis-a-vis CPI on the part of Nepal, which in 2015 became a federal secular democratic republic, a political order that is supposed to have democracy, transparency, and access to information at its core. 

Access to information is vital for a smooth operation of this political order because it helps not only to improve public service delivery but also increases public trust in government bodies. 

That is why the Constitution of Nepal has upheld the right to information (RTI), with Article 27 of the Charter declaring RTI as a fundamental right of every citizen of Nepal. 

With the aim of guaranteeing RTI, the government introduced the Right to Information Act 2007, set up a National Information Commission (NIC) in 2008, regarded as a very important step in promoting transparency and corruption in Nepal, and introduced some supporting rules in 2009. Section 4 of the Act has provisioned respect for and protection of the citizens’ right to information through classification and updation of information and dissemination of the same to the public, envisioning citizens’ ‘simple and easy’ access to information. Whereas Section 5 has a provision “to keep the information updated for at least 20 years.” 

Per the Act, both government and non-government entities must update information every three months and disclose the information even when the public does not seek it. 

Despite the open open-access data policy, none of the governmental entities (including the ministries), barring a few exceptions, have duly followed the RTI Act and other relevant rules. 

It is common for government officials to cover up corruption and malfeasance by hiding crucial information, including details of public officials' property, revenue losses, tax evasion and reports on suspicious financial transactions. 

Most of the government entities have appointed an information officer each for dissemination of information of public importance. But most of them are not very cooperative when it comes to providing data and dilly-dallying is quite common among them. 

This tendency to deny RTI is mainly due to 1) a culture of secrecy within government bodies, 2) lax implementation of RTI Act and its rules, and 3) no strict punishment for offices and personnel tasked with categorizing data and publishing them. 

It gives rise to some important questions: Are these entities functioning as per relevant rules and regulations? If  the officers have performed their tasks accordingly, then why are they hesitating to share data with the public?  

Does this unwillingness to share data reflect the concerned personnel’s vested interests? 

Whatever the reason behind this, correction measures should be taken and data made available to the people. In the absence of an open-access data policy and data-sharing mechanisms, it is impossible to verify whether the concerned personnel are discharging their duties in accordance with relevant laws or not. 

Following interventions are necessary to ensure the public’s easy access to data in Nepal: 

• Strict implementation of RTI Act 2007 and its Rules 2009 
• Implementation of new concepts in governance such as New Public Services and New Public Governance
• Activities aimed at raising awareness among the public to seek data from both government and non-government entities 
• Promotion of the culture of information dissemination and transparency through disruption of the culture of secrecy 
• Comprehensive research on identifying the impediments to open-access data-sharing systems, ways to remove the hurdles and implement the identified correction measures 

 The author, a veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services, is a graduate of the University of Cambridge

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in veterinary medicine, has been linked to vulture population declines in South Asia. When a vulture ingests this drug, it causes renal failure and results in the scavenger’s death. As the population of the natural cleansers of the carcasses declines, carcasses are left in the environment to rot, spreading various infectious pathogens to humans and animals in their close periphery population, posing a big threat to public health. 

Nepal is home to nine species of vultures, eight of which are either threatened or near threatened. 

The country was home to almost a million vultures until the 1980s. But due to a massive use of diclofenac sodium in livestock since the 1990s and its residual effect on carcasses of the dead animals, which is the feed source for vultures, the population of vulture had been declining massively, with almost 91 percent of the vulture population lost by the year 2001. 

Out of the nine species found in Nepal, four species, namely slender-billed vulture (G tenuirostris), white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian vulture (G indicus), and red-headed vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) are now critically endangered.

This dwindling population of vultures has raised concern among conservationists and several initiatives are in progress to arrest this decline. This includes the government’s decision to ban the production, import, sale and use of diclofenac in animals since 2006. 

Despite this ban, it took 17 years to declare Nepal diclofenac-free, which, nonetheless, is a commendable step in the field of vulture conservation and protection of ecological crises resulting from declining vulture populations.

Against this backdrop, a complete phase-out of diclofenac became possible through collaborative efforts of stakeholders like government agencies, veterinary professionals, pharmaceuticals and vulture conservation groups including Bird Conservation Nepal. 

The use of vulture safe anti-inflammatory drugs such as the Meloxicam Sodium and Tolfenamic Acid, public awareness campaigns and regulatory measures of the government have played a significant role in making Nepal diclofenac-free. 

Summing up, other nations dealing with similar problems, especially South Asian countries, can learn a lot from Nepal’s experience on how to work collaboratively on the protection of endangered species and ecological well-being. The involvement of various stakeholders with a collaborative approach and use of safe drugs should be the top priority of any nation as they seek to mitigate the impact of diclofenac on vulture population and maintain a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity.

The author is a veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) aka ‘Sangini Sui’ is a long-acting female contraceptive designed for use in women for birth control, and is not recommended for use in animals.  However, Nepali farmers are rampantly using this female contraceptive injection as a weight booster in the male goat. This unconventional application of MPA as a growth promoter has brought debates owing to its detrimental effects on animal health, human health and the environment. Although MPA is used for estrus synchronization in female goats, this practice in male goats could be detrimental. This article aims to explore the harmful consequences of this practice in sectors such as animal health, human health, and the environment arguing that the side effects of ‘Sangini Sui’ far outweigh the potential benefits to the farmers.

A controversial rise

‘Sangini Sui’ is a  popular injectable contraceptive originally intended for use in women, which contains a synthetic form of human progesterone. Research conducted by Lehloenya and his colleagues in South Africa found an increase in weight after estrus synchronization of the Boer and Nguni female goat with MPA injection. This change in the weight of male goats motivated farmers to use this injection as a growth promoter. This increased weight is supposed to enhance the market value. This trend of the use of MPA as a growth promoter has gained momentum among Nepali farmers in the absence of stringent scientific and regulatory oversight.

An illusion of prosperity

Proponents of the use of MPA as a growth promoter argue that ‘Sangini Sui’ provides economic benefits to farmers by enhancing their returns through weight gains. But weight gain should not overshadow the potentially harmful future consequences on animal health, human health, and the environment. One of the most conspicuous issues regarding the rampant use of  ‘Sangini Sui’ as a growth promoter in male goats is the non-scientific approach to authenticate its efficacy and safety. Also, frequent use and long-term effects on animal health and its residual effects in meat have not been studied yet thereby leaving farmers and consumers in the dark about the potential risks they are undertaking. A study in animals showed immunosuppression in the rabbit injected with the MPA at 30 mg/kg intramuscularly. The hormonal residue from the injected animals can leach into the soil, potentially contaminating groundwater sources and affecting other species in the ecosystem. 

What about animal welfare?

Although the practice of using ‘Sangini Sui’ may enhance the temporary weight gain in animals, it is imperative to consider the issues of the welfare of the animals involved. Injecting MPA into male goats not only affects the hormonal balance in the goat but also causes potential effects altering their physiological behavior along with reproductive issues and disruption in the overall health. The use of MPA disrupts the blood hormonal equilibrium in the male goats suppressing male hormones such as testosterone, leading to harmful physiological events. For instance, a decrease in libido and impaired reproductive function might be noticed. In some cases, it might trigger some harmful effects on the whole endocrine system. Apart from the beneficial effects of weight gain, there could be untoward long-term consequences in male goats thereby diminishing the success of breeding. This may adversely affect the sustainability of goat production in countries such as Nepal. 

Livelihoods at risk

The potentially harmful effects of ‘Sangini Sui’ extend beyond animal health to humans, particularly farmers, who depend on livestock farming for subsistence. At present, ‘Sangini Sui’ as a weight booster in male goats might create a false sense of success for the farmer. However, long-term consequences with an adverse effect on animal health and productivity might lead to financial losses to the farmers, who depend on livestock for their livelihood. In addition, the presence of hormone residues in meat and dairy products poses risks to human health, which are yet to be fully understood. The study conducted by Rath and his colleagues highlighted the adverse effects on human health such as carcinogenesis, endometrial hyperplasia, mammary hyperplasia, and reproductive toxicity through ingestion of residual hormone via meat and milk.

In a nutshell, the practice of using MPA in male goats is a problematic and serious issue, given its adverse effects on animal and human health. Although it may provide short-term economic benefits, the potential long-term effects on animal health, human health, animal welfare and the environment should not be ignored. Moreover, the absence of any rigorous scientific validations and regulatory oversights may worsen health hazards with this practice. All relevant stakeholders such as the policymakers and farmers must aim toward sustainable goat farming rather than imposing any shortcut remedies toward wrong practices that might impact animal health, human health and the whole ecosystem.

The author is a veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services

In Hinduism, red vermillion is a sign of valor, energy, and prosperity and is commonly used in worshiping gods, festivals, marriage ceremonies. The red vermillion mainly contains highly toxic Mercury sulfide (HgS) and sometimes Lead tetraoxide, which can cause carcinogenesis, leukoderma and multiple organ failures. Even though HgS is non-poisonous and can be stored and transported without any problems, it can release pure mercury in presence of heat and oxygen. In addition, after ingestion, the HgS is converted to toxic methylmercury by the intestinal microbiota such as bacteria and algae, which accumulates in the body leading to toxic levels. To provide red color to vermillion, red lead (Pb3O4) used in the powder has toxic effects on nervous, hematological, renal, and reproductive systems, which results in anemia, encephalopathy, kidney impairments and other nervous symptoms. 

A majority of Hindu people offer flowers and worship statues of gods and goddesses with red vermillion to appease deities. It is a common ritual in almost all Hindu temples of Nepal. However, the health, safety and potential toxicity of this commonly used vermillion to temple pigeons has not been explored yet. Despite having done little research on the toxicity of vermilion, its effect on temple pigeons has not been studied yet. 

A few reports  of temple pigeons falling ill and dying have been reported in some temples of Nepal such as Maisthan temple, Ilam, Barahakshetra Temple, Sunsari and Bhimeshwar  temple, Dolakha. Some local people and priests of temples have observed some pigeons falling ill and dying after consuming red vermillion mixed rice grains (Akshata) that is sprayed while worshiping gods and goddesses. 

Thus, it is important to explore the potential causes of death and identify an underlying specific cause. The practice of spraying mixed rice grains and red vermillion is common in the temples of Nepal, which increases the risk of metal toxicity such as mercury and lead. This spraying of mixed vermillion and rice grains on the temple contaminates the soil, drinking water, and surrounding air. This contamination may lead to health problems in temple pigeons from eating contaminated foodstuffs and contaminated drinking water. Furthermore, mercury and lead may accumulate on feathers and other vital body organs such as kidney, liver, spleen, brain and bone tissues. Apart from these temple pigeons, people who visit the temples are also at high risk of heavy metal poisoning due to the inhalation of dust particles contaminated with heavy metals. 

Thus, it is high time to explore what percentage of pigeons that consume Akshata died of either mercury or lead poisoning or if it is just a correlation between Akshata feeding and pigeon mortality. It has been observed that a low level of mercury and lead does not cause instant deaths; however, continuous accumulation of these compounds in the body leads to serious health issues associated with damage to the brain, liver, lungs, kidneys and ultimately death. 

This concern of ill health and mortality of pigeons and public health consequences of such heavy metals is a grave concern. 

The current practices of using red vermillion while worshiping gods and goddesses need reconsideration and we need changes in cultural practices to promote animal and human health. This change in cultural practices needs an innovative transformative approach involving the question of why to change, how to change, and change to other less toxic alternatives to red vermillion.The government of Nepal has an opportunity to change its cultural attitude. For this, awareness programs may be developed targeting religious groups and religious leaders, who can effectively impart that knowledge and awareness to the general public. 

The author is a veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services

Recent research indicates that zoonotic diseases will continue to grow and become a leading cause of animal and human casualties. Thus, healthcare workers, including animal health workers, will increasingly face substantial challenges in controlling such diseases, as these zoonotic diseases will continue to evolve and develop into new strains of pathogens or completely new pathogens along with complex disease dynamics. This complex nature of diseases underpins the importance of an integrated One-Health Approach (OHA) to address zoonotic diseases. Thus, this approach has emerged as a specified field of disease prevention and control that aims to promote the overall well-being of humans, animals and the environment.  

Although OHA has got a boost in many countries, it is rarely institutionalized. The lack of translation of scientific studies for the benefit of local communities has made people reluctant to follow OHA. It received greater attention from prominent organizations such as WHO, OIE, FAO, CDC and EU, leading to the development of a joint plan of action for the integration of OHA into national disease prevention and control strategies, giving rise to one-health organizations and integrated disease control models. Furthermore, many developed and developing countries have started to work on a one-health approach and developed legislations and laws to guide OH actions. Now, the gradual integration of the OHA is occurring across the various areas of prevention and control of diseases. 

Despite the acknowledged importance of the one-health approach for effective prevention and control of diseases, the barriers to the implementation of OHA persist in many Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). These barriers include a lack of qualified one-health professionals, funding constraints, a silo mentality among all concerned stakeholders, lack of intersectoral collaboration and political will, absence of collaboration among all stakeholders and inadequate investment by the government to promote OHA. Furthermore, there exists a dearth of research that involves the cost-effectiveness of OHA. This absence of information is a serious limitation for assessing the usefulness of OHA, whose application in the field condition is extremely poor. This paucity of data might be due to several factors, including wildlife professionals being excluded from multidisciplinary one-health action committees or lacking resources/measures to effectively account for sociocultural systems. However, despite having such challenges, these challenges represent opportunities for better integration and implementation of OHA involving all stakeholders, ranging from policymakers to wildlife and environmental professionals.

The OH activities have historically been disregarded in many developed and developing countries. In addition, factors that affect the implementation of OHA are poorly understood. Lack of collaboration and communication among all concerned stakeholders are pervasive, and wildlife and environmental professionals are neglected in OH action policies. Furthermore, due to a limited understanding of OHA among ground-level stakeholders, implementation of OHA has not yielded intended results. Lack of qualified one-health professionals in the field conditions, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, has prevented instant action in the field conditions. Lack of awareness among the public regarding the OHA has led to a low level of public acceptance of OHA.

Effective prevention and control of diseases needs a comprehensive and systematic approach involving all stakeholders with multidisciplinary interventions. A growing body of knowledge has shown that an integrated OHA is a cost-effective way to prevent and control diseases. Thus, integration of OHA across all disciplines of governance in all three tiers of government as well as research in institutions is essential for effective OH action.

Long-term investments in awareness campaigns for stakeholder behavioral change, research on the cost-effectiveness of OHA, and collaborative partnerships are necessary if OHA is to be effective.  A constant effort should be made to promote better knowledge and understanding of one-health issues in society either through awareness campaigns, rallies, seminars, and dissertation groups or through social media platforms. As there is an acute lack of one-health experts in many developing countries, the training of non-specialists under the supervision of one-health experts and strengthening their capacity in prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, disaster response, and risk reduction, data collection, and communication would be an effective approach. To raise awareness among public, school and university curricula should be updated with the inclusion of OHA. 

Those students in school and university then can teach their parents about one-health issues through lessons learned in school. And, the parents by being aware of OH issues, can apply preventive and control measures to prevent disease occurrences. Therefore, students should be educated and supported to facilitate the implementation of one-health activities. Using education platforms could be a cost-effective method involving little or no financial resources, raising awareness to convey a message about one-health systems.

Healthcare professionals working in field conditions should be trained on OHA. Now, it is time for all countries to act together to achieve the goal of disease control and elimination as envisioned by One-Health policy documents by building a strong intersectoral collaboration, funding allocation, infrastructures, human resources as well as political commitments.

This OHA should be spearheaded by professional OH actors and/or societies to provide needed expertise to address OH issues. Furthermore, WHO, OIE and FAO should provide support for regional cooperation among countries to build a robust system of OHA plans for better preparedness in dealing with epidemics and preventing as well as controlling zoonotic diseases. Thus, it is high time to implement OHA to tackle infectious diseases.

The author is a Veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services (DLS)