PRACHANDA, SAMUEL TAMRAT MEET

PRACHANDA, SAMUEL TAMRAT MEET; OTHER DETAILS

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.: Maoist Chairman.Prachanda, held discussions Monday with Samuel Tamrat, visiting special emissary of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
They discussed the delayed peace process and constitution drafting.
Tamrat will hold discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, Defence Minister Bishnu Paudel, Peace Minister Pampha Bhusal and Madeshbadi parties Monday.
The envoy began his Nepal visit by discussing the delayed completion of the peace process and constitution drafting by meeting Caretaker Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal Saturday—the day he flew in from New York on a five-day visit.
Tamrat held a dialogue wit NC President Sushil Koirala Sunday.
He’ll report to the security council after he returns conveying UN concern with completing the peace process and constitution drafting.
UNMIN—the political arm of UN, withdrew from Nepal 15 January after a failed four-year mission.
UNMIN was largely a front for western countries, mainly EU member states, especially Scandinavian, Germany and United Kingdom—financing the peace process and 19,000 plus Maoist former combatants--in 28 cantonments and satellite camps.
The fund routed through the peace ministry is a major financial source for the UCPN (Maoist).
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GARBAGE COLLECTION RESUMES

Kathmandu, 22 Aug.: Collection of tons of garbage piling up on the streets of the capital began being Sunday for dumping at a site in Sisdole in neighbouring Nuwakot.
Repeated landslides triggered by monsoon blocked the movement of vehicles on the approach road.
Landslides were cleared last week after disruption of vehicular movement for nearly three weeks.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Some political leaders are providing political protection to people who are threatening and attacking journalists and media.”

(Reporters Without Borders assessment)
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TEST-TUBE BABY SERVICES AT MATERNITY HOSPITAL





Kathmandu, 22 Aug : For those couples who are childless due to inability to conceive normally, there is a good piece of news. The Paropakar Maternity Hospital in the capital has started the In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services, Gita Sapkota writes in The Rising Nepal
The IVF service was introduced in the hospital on Sunday. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal inaugurated the IVF centre, offering hopes to hopeless couples. The service has been launched to mark the 52nd anniversary of the hospital at Thapathali.
This is going to be a reason for excitement for those women who are unable to conceive and unable to afford expensive version of IVF. This government hospital will provide IVF services for those wanting to have test-tube babies at a lot cheaper price compared to private hospitals.
If the inability to conceive was due to sterility in man, there is no cause to worry. The hospital has a sperm bank facility too.
The cause of barrenness is on the male side when a husband cannot produce sperms or produces too little sperms. According to Infertologist and Gynecologist Dr. Ashwini Trikha, a male should produce 60 million sperms per ml of semen for successful fertilization.
"If sperm count is less than 15 million he will not be able to fertilise. In the IVF technology, even a single sperm can be utilised." Dr. Trikha said. Dr. Trikha has came from India to provide training for the services.
Medics said that 20 to 25 per cent of Nepalese couples have infertility. Following the announcement of the service, a number of curious women visited the hospital.
So far, the facility is not available at any other government hospitals.
People have to pay exorbitant fees for the service in private hospitals. Om Hospital and Global Hospital have been providing test-tube baby services at present. They charge around Rs. 700,000 to get a test-tube baby.
However, in Paropakar Maternity Hospital, the service will be available at Rs. 160,000 thought the rate is not officially announced yet.
If a woman has both her falepian tubes blocked, they cannot become pregnant normally. The block is caused by infection.
If the problem is on the female member of the couple, test-tube baby can be an option
However, only 30-35 cases of test-tube babies worldwide are successfully born which depend on age factors. The chances of success are higher among couples in less than 40 years age group.
The hospital has 416 beds, more than 100 doctors, 250 nurses, and around 631 staff.
Director of the hospital Dr. Lata Bajracharya complained of the shortage of beds and manpower. A year ago, the

government announced free delivery services and 1,000 rupees incentives as travel cost to mothers, leading to the high flow of the patients.
Previously, the hospital had to handle 40 to 50 delivery cases daily which have now gone up to 100, she said.
Speaking at the function, Minister for Health and Population Lokendra Bista said that the hospital has been playing an important role to reduce child and maternal mortality and achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDGs).
Minister Bista said that the government plans to expand maternity service to remote areas as well.
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