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Dr Shivaji Poudel has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Bharatpur-based BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital.

A recommendation subcommittee formed by the hospital board of directors has recommended Dr Poudel along with Dr Krishna Sagar Sharma and Dr Pradeep Neupane for the post on Sunday evening.

The hospital board of directors unanimously decided to pick Dr Poudel as the Executive Director today, informed member of board of directors, Dr Anil Bikram Karki.

The hospital board had formed a three-member recommendation committee comprising Dr Madan Upadhyay, Dr Pradeep Gyawali and Dr Dinesh Biswokarma.

Dr Upadhyay is a representative from the Ministry of Health and Population while Dr Gyawali is the member-secretary of National Health Research Council and Dr Biswokarma is a member of the board of directors of the hospital.

Newly-appointed Executive Director Dr Poudel is the radiation oncologist of the cancer hospital. He is also the vice-chairperson of the Nepal Medical Council.

The position of executive director has remained vacant at the hospital after the tenure of Executive Director Dr Dej Kumar Gautam expired.  

Five-year-old Reeyaz Pudasaini embodies a generation absorbed in virtual realms. His leisure hours are dominated by mobile games, a habit spanning several years. Struggling academically and frequently embroiled in conflicts, he has become a recluse, avoiding any companionship. “I am comfortable alone,” he shares. “I get mad whenever my parents or siblings bother me.”

The allure of digital victories on mobile games has consumed him, replacing human connections. His digital addiction has blurred the line between reality and the virtual world.  Recognizing the seriousness of his behavior, a school counselor is trying to help Reeyaz adjust his attitude and make him more sociable. These days, he is taking up guitar and swimming lessons.

The story of Reeyaz is far from unique, with a prevailing trend seen across the country.  A parallel narrative emerges through Arika Dahal's story. Obsessed with online appearance and popularity, the twelve-year-old began contemplating cosmetic surgery to fix her nose and lips. Worried, her parents had to take her to a counselor.  

“She used to be the top student in her class,” says her father Anjan. “Her descent started after I made the mistake of giving her a mobile phone. She got hooked into TikTok which gave her the idea about beauty standards.”

In a world where self-alteration is just a click away, reality distorts. With the help of her counselor Arika is on the journey to self-acceptance, signaling a transformation from distorted self-perception to embracing one's uniqueness.  The tales of Reeyaz and Arika demonstrate how modern parents are enabling the digital addiction of their children by handing them smartphones at a very young age. They do not realize that the damaging allure of screens beckons even the youngest ones. 

In a paradoxical pursuit of solace, parents furnish the tech-enabled stimuli to their children that inadvertently subvert their growth. Experts decry this parental blind spot, urging due diligence in curating a virtual milieu befitting the developmental contours of the young minds. They say by fostering open conversations, parents can facilitate healthy digital practices, allowing children to explore while safeguarding their emotional well-being.

“Parents and teachers should be aware about the cognitive disorders of excess social media use on children. They must teach children safe online practices,” says Namrata Thapa, child psychologist.  “Children who spend too much time using online media may be exposed to a subtype of behavior known as Problematic Internet Use. Heavy gamers are at risk for Internet gaming disorder, where they have little interest in real-life or real-life relationships.”

Adolescents ensnared in the digital labyrinth exhibit anemic predilections for offline interactions, distorting the primal tenets of socializing. This curious paradox augments vulnerability, perpetuating a vicious cycle wherein the digital shelter belies a subtler kind of isolation.

Technology’s impact stretches beyond the psychological realm. The invasion of smartphones into sleep patterns affect young minds that require rejuvenation. The ergonomic impact, manifesting in neck and back discomfort, mirrors an unhealthy lifestyle driven by screen time.

In the world woven with digital threads, a generation's fate hangs precariously. As guardians, as society, the responsibility is clear: to tether children's soaring dreams and boundless curiosity to the shores of informed guidance. The digital realm is a canvas of both possibility and peril, which demands vigilance, dialogue, and above all, the preservation of childhood's innocence.

Things to do for your child’s digital wellbeing:

• Be aware of online risks: Parents and guardians should be aware of the risks associated with children using online platforms. Teach children about online safety, privacy settings, and responsible behavior on social media.

• Age-appropriate content: Ensure that children are exposed to age-appropriate content on the internet. Guide your children in using technology and consuming content that is suitable for their age.

• Promote balanced screen time: Encourage a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Excessive screen time can have negative effects on physical and mental health.

• Balance social media use: Instead of outright banning social media, teach children how to use it responsibly and safely. Discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media use.

Encourage offline activities: Encourage children to engage in outdoor activities, hobbies, and real-life interactions to foster a healthy balance between online and offline experiences.

Police have arrested four persons for their alleged involvement in swindling people on the pretext of providing lucrative jobs in foreign countries.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office nabbed them from various areas of the Capital.

The suspects have been identified as Samir Ale Magar (30), Sarmila Sunuwar (35), Tara Gurung (40) and Jit Bahadur Khadka (51).

DSP Milan KC said that Samir, a permanent resident of Nawalparasi, currently residing in Tokha had swindled Mahesh Paudle along with two others of Rs 545,000 with a false promise to send them to Canada.

Similarly, Sarmila went incommunicado after collecting two lakhs from the victims assuring them of lucrative jobs in Croatia.

Police said that she defrauded the people assuring them that they would get the monthly salary of more than Rs 100,000 in food packing.

Likewise, Tara had defrauded Rabin Chaudhary of Rs 345, 000 assuring him to send to the Netherlands for foreign employment.

She had assured Chaudhary that she would provide a job in a supermarket and would get a monthly salary of more than Rs 100, 000.

Police apprehended her based on the complaint filed by Chaudhary after she went out of contact after collecting the money.

Meanwhile, police said that Jit Bahadur of Salyan, currently living in Suryabinayak of Bhaktapur, had swindled Dilip Bista of 194, 000 with a promise to send to Kuwait.

He had defrauded Jit Bahadur with a fake promise to provide him a job as a bike rider in Kuwait.

DSP KC said that all the four have been sent to the Tahachal-based Foreign Employment Department for further investigation.

The flood in Kagbeni of Mustang on 13 August, 2023 has caused a loss of millions of rupees, according to data prepared by the disaster management committee, Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality.

Around 1 billion worth of properties were damaged in the flood that destroyed many private houses, government and non-governmental buildings, business houses and other structures, the data shows. The disaster also destroyed crops and fruit farming in the area. 

Apple farming grown in over 11 ropanis of land and 170 apple saplings were destroyed in flood, said Lokendra Singh Dhami, agriculture section chief at the Rural Municipality.

The flood has displaced dozens of local people.

After being displaced, some of the flood victims are taking shelter in their families' houses while others are taking refuge in school buildings.

Without relief, they are finding it difficult to manage meals, they said.