NINE EAST NEPAL DISTRICTS CLOSED DOWN

NINE EAST NEPAL DISTRICTS CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: A continued three-day strike Tuesday forcible closed nine districts east of Arun river.
The strike sponsored by Limbuwan autonomous province disrupted normal life and inconvenienced people.
Besides regional autonomy, the group is demanding promulgation of a constitution by Wednesday improved law and order and implementation of promises with government.
Nnnn



KP SHITAULA ELECTED KOREA NRN CHIEF

Kathmandu, 30 Aug.: KP Shitaula was elected Monday chairman of Korea NRN Korea working committee.
The third convention of the NRN elected Shitaula.
Raju Chetri, Lochan Rai and Mani Lama were elected vice-chairmen.
Their election was for a two-year term.
Nnnn



CHINA EMBASSY CONGRATULATES PM BHATTARAI OVER TELEPHONE





Kathmandu, 30 Aug 29: The People’s Republic of China has congratulated newly appointed Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, The Rising Nepal reports.
Chinese ambassador to Nepal Yang Haulan congratulated Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai through phone call on Sunday.
Nnnn


BIR HOSPITAL DISSMISSES 91 PAID VOLUNTEERS





Kathmandu, 30 Aug : A total of 91 appointments of paid volunteers have been scrapped in Bir Hospital at the direction of the National Vigilance Centre (NVC) and the National Academy of Medical Sciences, The Rising Nepal reports.
Director of the Bir Hospital Dr. Bulanda Thapa scrapped their appointments collectively Sunday.
The decision removed paid volunteers such as gastrologist Dr. Gyanendra Lal Amatya who had been working at the hospital for eight years.
The NVC alleged Director Dr. Bulanda Thapa appointed paid volunteers irregularly and instructed him to remove them on 11 August last year. The National Academy of Medical Sciences instructed the hospital to implement the NVC’s direction a week ago.
Dr. Thapa had appointed a total of 28 paid volunteers (during 16 months), including 11 doctors. Others were working from many years ago.
"Services have been badly affected after their removal," Dr. Thapa said.
Dr. Thapa blamed that the Ministry of Health and Population never planned for development of Bir Hospital and its service improvements.
For 18 years, not a single post of doctors has been created although the flow of patients and needs for service increased by many folds, he said.
On the other hand, 248 posts, 91 of National Academy of Medical Sciences and 137 of Health Ministry have remained vacant for a long time. "Neither the academy nor the Health Ministry is serious about the condition of Bir Hospital."
The hospital provided very nominal salaries to the paid volunteers (incentive workers). A volunteer doctor received Rs. 10,000 while the government appointed doctors received Rs. 24,000. Similarly, nurses and office helpers were also working there for a very nominal fee.
"I have started different additional services in my tenure, that’s why the incentive workers were appointed," Dr. Thapa said.
He said that he had started injury surveillance system, coronary angiography, scientific waste management, gamma camera, kidney transplant and many other services in the hospital.
In the absence of necessary employees, the service would be affected, he said.
nnnn