Utilization of Lapsi seed stone (choerospondias axillaris) as source of activated charcoal for removal of arsenic

People inhabited in Terai region of Nepal use ground water as the main source of drinking water that are contaminated with arsenic at concentration level higher than guide line value set by WHO. The arsenic in the ground water is originated from the dissolution of naturally occurring arsenic containing minerals. Nepal, being a poor country, cannot afford to adopt costly and sophisticated technology to remove arsenic. Adsorptive removal of arsenic utilizing the activated charcoal prepared from the locally available Lapsi (chorespondias axillaris, Roxb) seed stone is presented. Tons of Lapsi seed stones are generated as waste which can be carbonized to activated charcoal. The adsorption capacity for arsenic is quite low for raw charcoal but activation followed by iron impregnation greatly enhances it. The low cost activated charcoal prepared from locally available Lapsi seed stones can be used in community level at point- of- use treatment for arsenic contaminated ground water of Terai region of Nepal

What long serving village maintenance workers have in common: findings from Nepal's Karnali zone

This paper presents the findings of a small qualitative investigation conducted in 2013 interviewing Village Maintenance Workers (VMWs) in three Karnali districts of Mid West Region of Nepal. The predominant water supply technology is Gravity Fed Water Systems (GFWS) often bringing water from spring sources many kilometres from the village and therefore requiring formal management for sustained operation and maintenance. The SNV Nepal Functionality of Rural Water Supply (FRWS) programme has identified that of the GFWS in these districts, only around 23% are functioning fully with between 10 and 70% having a designated VMW, depending on the district, despite the presumption that the presence of a trained and motivated VMW is a pre-requisite to ensuring functionality. The investigation aimed to identify common factors amongst long and short-serving VMWs in order to develop strategies to encourage their continued service on rural water supplies (RWS)

Antiviral Activity of Some Plants Used in Nepalese Traditional Medicine

Methanolic extracts of 41 plant species belonging to 27 families used in the traditional medicine in Nepal have been investigated for in vitro antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and influenza virus A by dye uptake assay in the systems HSV-1/Vero cells and influenza virus A/MDCK cells. The extracts of Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata, Cassiope fastigiata and Thymus linearis showed potent anti-herpes viral activity. The extracts of Allium oreoprasum, Androsace strigilosa, Asparagus filicinus, Astilbe rivularis, Bergenia ciliata and Verbascum thapsus exhibited strong anti-influenza viral activity. Only the extracts of A. rivularis and B. ciliata demonstrated remarkable activity against both viruses

Projected changes in climate over the Indus river basin using a high resolution regional climate model (PRECIS)

A regional climate modelling system, the Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies developed by the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research, has been used to study future climate change scenarios over Indus basin for the impact assessment. In this paper we have examined the three Quantifying Uncertainty in Model Predictions simulations selected from 17-member perturbed physics ensemble generated using Hadley Centre Coupled Module. The climate projections based on IPCC SRES A1B scenario are analysed over three time slices, near future (2011-2040), middle of the twenty first century (2041-2070), and distant future (2071-2098). The baseline simulation (1961-1990) was evaluated with observed data for seasonal and spatial patterns and biases. The model was able to resolve features on finer spatial scales and depict seasonal variations reasonably well, although there were quantitative biases. The model simulations suggest a non-uniform change in precipitation overall, with an increase in precipitation over the upper Indus basin and decrease over the lower Indus basin, and little change in the border area between the upper and lower Indus basins. A decrease in winter precipitation is projected, particularly over the southern part of the basin. Projections indicate greater warming in the upper than the lower Indus, and greater warming in winter than in the other seasons. The simulations suggest an overall increase in the number of rainy days over the basin, but a decrease in the number of rainy days accompanied by an increase in rainfall intensity in the border area between the upper and lower basins, where the rainfall amount is highest

Maize in Nepal: Production Systems, Constraints, and Priorities for Research

Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Improving post-partum family planning services provided by female community health volunteers in Nepal: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Family planning services in the post-partum period, termed post-partum family planning (PPFP) is critical to cover the unmet need for contraception, especially when institutional delivery rates have increased. However, the intention to choose PPFP methods such as post-partum intrauterine devices (PPIUD) remains low in countries such as Nepal. Community health workers such as Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) could play an important role in improving the service coverage of PPFP in Nepal. However, their knowledge of PPFP and community-based services related to PPFP remain unclear. This study aims to assess the effect on community-based PPFP services by improving FCHV's knowledge through orientation on PPFP. METHODS: We conducted this mixed-methods study in Morang District in Nepal. The intervention involved orientation of FCHVs on PPFP methods. We collected quantitative data from three sources; via a survey of FCHVs that assessed their knowledge before and after the intervention, from their monthly reporting forms on counseling coverage of women at different stages of pregnancy from the communities, and by interviewing mothers in their immediate post-partum period in two selected hospitals. We also conducted six focus group discussions with the FCHVs to understand their perception of PPFP and the intervention. We performed descriptive and multivariable analyses for quantitative results and thematic analysis for qualitative data. RESULTS: In total, 230 FCHVs participated in the intervention and their knowledge of PPFP improved significantly after it. The intervention was the only factor significantly associated with their improved knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 24, P < 0.001) in the multivariable analysis. FCHVs were able to counsel 83.3% of 1872 mothers at different stages of pregnancy in the communities. In the two hospitals, the proportion of mothers in their immediate post-partum period whom reported they were counseled by FCHVs during their pregnancy increased. It improved from 7% before the intervention to 18.1% (P < 0.001) after the intervention. The qualitative findings suggested that the intervention improved their knowledge in providing PPFP counseling. CONCLUSION: The orientation improved the FCHV's knowledge of PPFP and their community-based counseling. Follow-up studies are needed to assess the longer term effect of the FCHV's role in improving community-based PPFP services

Handover - Enabling Learning in Communication for Safety (HELiCS): a report on achievements at two hospital sites

The provision of health care is becoming increasingly complex and fragmented.1,2 As a result, to ensure continuity of care, the handover of clinical tasks is becoming more frequent and important. However, the general lack of clinical handover planning and training in handover communication creates unacceptable risks for patients.1 Not surprisingly, clinical handover has been identified as a major international policy and research priority