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Doctors across the nation have risen in protest against the alarming surge in violence targeting medical professionals and healthcare workers. 

Most recently, an angry mob vandalized property and assaulted a doctor at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara. The incident followed the death of one Sukmaya Dura (57) from Lamjung in the course of treatment at the hospital. 

Enraged by Dura’s death, an agitated crowd resorted to violence. Their accusations centered on the alleged concealment of the Dura’s condition and suspicions of medical negligence, as they questioned how a seemingly stable patient could pass away so suddenly.

This disturbing trend of violence against medical practitioners has rippled across various parts of the country, with reports of two doctors being assaulted in Hetauda, and another doctor in District Hospital Lamjung suffering a similar fate, all amid accusations of inadequate medical care. Incidents of violence against doctors and medical professionals have also been reported in Butwal, Biratnagar, Chitwan, and Patan, leaving health workers across the country fearing for their lives.

In solidarity with their fellow healthcare professionals and to demand enhanced security measures, doctors in white coats gathered in Kathmandu’s Maitighar Mandala on Tuesday, brandishing placards bearing messages like “Don’t come to the hospital, save the lives of both doctors and patients,” and “Stop violence against health workers.” They demanded swift action against the perpetrators and an end to this vicious cycle.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Medical Association, in a strongly worded statement signed by General Secretary Dr Sanjay Tiwari, condemned these repeated attacks on doctors. The NMA stressed that without justice for these assaults, healthcare providers are left vulnerable and fearful, which imperils the delivery of essential medical services.

To address this crisis, the association has urgently called for a meeting involving hospital directors, resident association officials, and representatives from various specialty societies. Dr Sandip Okheda, president of the National Resident Doctors’ Association, Kathmandu, lamented the demoralization of health practitioners and emphasized that effective implementation of the Security of Health Workers and Health Organizations Act 2010 is vital to curb such violence.

The act stipulates severe penalties for attacks on health workers and health institutions, with those responsible facing imprisonment of up to three years or fines of Rs 300,000, or both. Vandalism of health institutions is equally punishable, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison or fines of Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000, or both. Furthermore, the act ensures compensation for health workers and organizations suffering losses due to such offenses.

An amendment to the act introduced in 2022 also bans picketing, assaulting health workers, obstructing healthcare services, and damaging health institutions. Under the act, health workers and institutions can request immediate security from local authorities in response to threats or violence.

Dr Okheda underscored the urgent need for action against these perpetrators, echoing the growing chorus for justice and safety for those who dedicate their lives to saving others.

When the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA) was under the management of the government, conservation efforts weren’t very effective. Cases of poaching and felling of trees used to come to the police very often.

The situation has changed after the local community took over the management of KCA. The local people keep vigil on the forest, arrest poachers, and hand out punishments to them. This has resulted in a better forest and environment, and an increase in wildlife numbers, according to Khagendra Limbu, chairman of KCA Management Council.

“This is all because the local people themselves are the forest guards. People who used to poach wild animals in the past themselves are protecting the forests now. This is because people have realized that they will be safe as long as forests are safe,” he added. “Had this conservation area been under the management of the government, forests would have been destroyed, and wild animals poached.”

KCA was handed to the local community in Sept 2006, marking the first occasion when the local community was entrusted with the management of a protected area.

Surya Limbu, a local of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality within KCA, said local people have taken ownership of the forests and are protecting them. “Earlier, we used to fell trees for firewood and other purposes. Now, we are protecting the forests,” he added.

Chairman Limbu informed that it took a lot of time to educate the local people that they can become prosperous only by saving forests. “We formed different groups to educate local people on how they can benefit by protecting forests,” he added. “Now, they have realized the importance of forests and are working to protect this natural resource.”

Rabin Samra Limbu, the vice chairperson of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality, said local people now know that conservation efforts will become effective if the local community is involved. “Now people take care of forests because they have realized that they stand to benefit more by protecting forests,” he added. “When we were small, we saw the local people cutting trees. Today, they are protecting the forest as well as the wildlife.”

The creation of local units, however, has created some problems in conservation. “Some problems have been seen due to overlapping of the laws of the local unit and the management council. The government should look into this,” Samra Limbu added.

Conservation Office Ramesh Kumar Yadav said the conservation success of KCA has shown that the local community can be mobilized for the protection of forests in hilly areas. “The number of households in this region is very low, while the forest area is larger. The success in KCA has shown that the local community can be used for conservation,” said Yadav, who worked in KCA for over a year.

Lessons Learned 

Studies conducted prior to the handover of KCA to the local community indicated that conservation efforts would be more successful if the local community were involved. That’s why the government decided to pilot this approach by handing over KCA to the local community. However, KCA’s experience has not been replicated in other areas of the country yet.

Chairman Limbu suggested that the government can reduce its expenses on the protection of national parks, conservation areas, and other projects by entrusting them to the local community. “The government should learn from KCA how to protect natural resources. We have seen significant changes here in the past 17 years. People have realized that forests and natural resources are their own. This is a significant achievement,” he added.

The government has been allocating a budget of Rs 2.5m for conservation efforts in KCA. According to Chairman Limbu, the total budget of KCA, including the salary of government staff, is only around Rs 6-7m. “But the government is spending tens of millions of rupees on national parks and other conservation areas,” he said, adding, “If they could also be handed over to the local community, the government could save money, and conservation efforts would be more effective.”

No human-wildlife conflict

Incidents of human-wildlife conflict are often reported in other places. However, the situation is different in KCA. Locals here are not scared of wildlife, and vice versa. 

Chairman Limbu claims that KCA serves as an example of human-wildlife harmony. “There is no concern of wild animals being chased or killed here. Even when locals and tourists arrive, wildlife graze without any fear. This means that wild animals feel safe,” Limbu added.

Tashi Sherpa of Ghunsa village said poachers have stopped entering the forests after the local community took over the management of KCA. “Earlier, wild animals like blue sheep and deer used to run when they saw humans. Now, they don’t seem to be scared,” he added.

KCA is home to endangered wildlife species like snow leopards, musk deer, and red pandas, as well as hundreds of medicinal herbs. The KCA is home to Mt Kanchanjunga, the third highest peak in the world, as well as tens of other peaks and places of religious importance.

As many as 17 people have lost their lives to dengue and 30,330 people have been infected in the Koshi Province since mid-July.

Sunsari district has witnessed the highest number of dengue infection cases.

At least 13 people died due to dengue infection and 19,432 people infected in the district since mid-July, informed the Public Health Officer of Koshi Province Health Directorate Dhankuta, Bibechana Chamlagain.

Dengue infection has broken out in all 14 districts of Koshi Province.

According to him, Morang has witnessed 4,242 cases of dengue infection while one person died of the contagion.

As many as 2,964 people have tested positive for dengue infection and two people have so far lost their lives in Jhapa. Likewise, a person also died due to dengue infection in Udayapur. 

Dengue-infected patients are undergoing treatment in Sunsari-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences and private and public hospitals in other districts.

Terhathum district now has 211 infected patients, Panchthar 338, Ilam 535, Udayapur 816, Dhankuta 432. Bhojpur 331, Sankhuwasabha 867, Okhaldhunga 40, Taplejung 33 and Khotang 45 and Solukhumbu 20.

With the outbreak of dengue infection, all local governments in the province have started an anti-dengue campaign. However, dengue infection has been on the rise in the province.  

The 44th World Tourism Day is being observed in Nepal by organizing several programs today.

On the occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, Department of Tourism and leading organizations of the tourism sector are celebrating the day with several activities.

With the slogan 'Tourism and Green Investment', the World Tourism Day is being observed in Nepal, the ministry said.

In order to mark the day in a fanfare, the 44th World Tourism Day Main Function Committee has been formed under the premiership of Minister for Tourism Sudan Kiranti.

According to the Ministry Spokesperson Rajendra Kumar KC, the tourism minister will welcome foreign tourists arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport through the first flight at 6 am today.

Likewise, a morning rally will be held from Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur to Mangalbazaar at 7.30 am.

A formal program will be organized in the Patan Durbar area.

At the program jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Lalitpur Metropolis, organizations earning higher foreign currency and individuals and institutions making contributions to the tourism sector will be honored today.

The World Tourism Day is being marked on September 27 every year with a slogan 'Promoting Accessible Tourism for All'.