14 kg gold smuggling case: Former Vice-President Pun's advisor Gurung arrested
Former Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun's advisor Geewan Gurung has been arrested in connection with the 14 kg gold smuggling case.
A team of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) nabbed Gurung, Chairperson of Platinum College in Dillibazaar, Kalikasthan of Kathmandu, today.
CIB Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police (SP) Hobindra Bogati informed that Gurung, a permanent resident of Fulbari-2, Parbat, was arrested from Samakhusi.
In the course of the investigation, he was found to be the architect of the smuggling of 14-kg gold from Dubai.
"Gurung was at large after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the smuggling of 14 kg gold from Dubai", SP Bogati said.
Police have apprehended him today, he said, adding preparations are on to hand him to the Customs Office.
KMC stops collecting waste from four hospitals
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has stopped collecting waste from four hospitals with effect from Sunday.
The waste collection of Shaheed Memorial Hospital and Nepal National Hospital in Kalanki and Dirghayu Guru Hospital and Om Hospital in Chabahil has been stopped, said KMC landfill site in-charge engineer Sarkardeep Shrestha.
The decision was taken after a monitoring by the KMC of the waste management system of the health facilities was found not complying with the prevailing law. Accordingly, the hospitals have been instructed to present to the Environmental Management Department of the KMC a plan for decontamination of infected waste, documents related to the commitment made for waste management during the registration and operation of the hospital, and the details of the organizations that have collaborated for waste management.
"Decontamination of infected waste is the producer's responsibility. Furthermore, infrastructure and mechanisms should be established for the proper waste management in a hospital," engineer Shrestha said.
The KMC has been regularly monitoring hospital waste and giving necessary instructions for the past two weeks to make waste management more effective.
The Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS (2017) has authorized the local government to determine and regulate sanitary waste collection, reuse, processing, disposal and about its service fees. In addition, the local government has also been given the right to penalize health institutions that do not manage the medical waste as provided in the prevailing law.
Govt suspends medical testing services provided by 70 health institutes for foreign employment
The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security has decided to temporarily suspend medical testing services provided by 70 health institutes for individuals seeking foreign employment.
The Ministry had issued a notice on January 26, instructing these medical facilities to comply with certain criteria. However, as they failed to adhere to the instructions, their services were discontinued.
The Ministry initiated monitoring on August 29, covering a total of 213 health institutes both inside and outside the Kathmandu Valley. During the monitoring process, it was found that 70 health institutes did not meet the specified criteria, leading to the suspension of their services.
Due to issues regarding the listed health facilities in Nepal, host countries including Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and South Korea have independently selected health institutes here to conduct these medical tests while Qatar has ensured all medical tests within the Qatar Visa Center.
Around 5.7 million children to be vaccinated against measles
A nationwide vaccination campaign against measles-rubella is starting today. The vaccination campaign targeted on all children between nine months to 15 years of age will continue till March 20.
The first phase will cover 24 districts including 21 highly infected districts bordering India and three districts of Kathmandu Valley. Similarly, children from nine months to five years of age in the remaining 53 districts will also be vaccinated. Vaccination will take place in schools and vaccination centers from 10 am to 4 pm every day.
Around 2.1 million children between nine months to five years and 3.6 million between five years and 15 years will be vaccinated, said Chief of Department of Health Services, Child Health and Immunization Section, Dr Abhiyan Gautam.
A total of 48,798 vaccination centers have been set up across the country for the campaign. Similarly, 49,937 health workers and 59,906 volunteers are being mobilized
The vaccination campaign is being carried out with the goal of eliminating measles-rubella by 2026.
