Annual Sharing Meeting of Paschim Paaila

Annual Sharing meeting of Paschim Paaila on the occasion of 4^th anniversary was held at 20^th July, 2013 at ENPHO hall, Thapagaun on Saturday. Paschim Paaila is an informal youth network focused on environmental health with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and disasters/epidemics as social concern which was formed on July 17, 2009 after the outbreak of Diarrhea/Cholera epidemic in Mid and Far Western region of Nepal with a youthful spirit of selfless volunteer service.

After the warm welcome by MC Ms. Karuna Bhattarai, Guests and all the participants were chaired. The Guest were Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Giri Raj Khatri, Past President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Program Manager of ENPHO and Mr. Prajwol Shrestha, Program Manager of ENPHO Mr. Raman Nepali, Youth Activist, Mr. Anil Shrestha, Youth Activist, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam, Researcher,.

Ms. Kamala KC, Past Campaign Coordinator and active paaila of Paschim Paaila welcomed all the participants continuing the program by documentary screening entitled "The candles for water". Ms. Merina Shakya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila, started the Annual Sharing starting with its introduction, vision, mission and objectives. The key activities like impact study of Su-Swastha pariyojana, series of wash concern workshop, wash forum, etc. with glimpse of Paschim Paaila were shared. Milestones like deusi bhailo, WASH awareness raising toolkit, SWASH Campaign and successful celebration of 4^th anniversary of Paschim Paaila with inter school drawing competition and Diyo lightening at Swyambhu were shared.

Ms.  Urmila Lama was declared as Paaila of the year 2012/13 announced by Mr. Dangol giving her congratulation and best wishes. Certificates to the participants of Drawing competition, WASH Concern Workshop and Awareness raising toolkit implementation was then distributed.

Then Paaila Idea Fund 2013, basket fund innovated by the paailas handed over to 2-3 genuine ideas in the field of WASH and Disaster. This time the fund was provided to Mr. Regan Sapkota for "Mahila Ka Paaila" and Mr. Niroj Maharjan for "Blood Pressure Weight Monitoring and WASH Awareness Camp."

The Annual sharing again resumed with the declaration by Ms. Merina Shakya to hand over the Network Coordinator post to Mr. Buddha Bajracharya for the fiscal Year 2013/14. Certificate to the volunteers of School WASH (SWASH) campaign, Drama and those who helped in the coordination of events for 4^th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila was distributed.

Mr. Bipin Dangol, then shared the guest remark where he suggested Paschim Paaila to never lose the essence i.e. Youth spirit and Volunteerism i.e. if they are placed parallel then only Paschim Paaila can sustain. He even requested to include as much as more paailas who were there at the beginning of the initiative, because their knowledge and experience can also help Paschim paaila to move forward.

 Mr. Raman Nepali and Mr. Anil Shrestha as a guest energized the participants with their motivational speech and various examples which indeed added an extra gem to the annual sharing of Paschim Paaila.  Mr. Giri raj Khatri shared, the journey next is not easy but if all of us are committed then it is not so difficult as well. Mr. Buddha Bajracharya shared ongoing activities, Pipeline activities and avenues wise future planning of Paschim Paaila.

 Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan, President of Paschim Paaila, Mr. Om Prasad Gautam and Mr. Prajwol Shrestha inspired and showed the way ahead with their innovative ideas. Their presence has always leaded Paschim Paaila to a way forward and will always is how Ms. Merina Shakya addressed their support and words.

The Annual Sharing was then followed by cake cutting ceremony along with some photos. 

Written By: Manisha Thapaliya

Young steps for epidemic free Nepal Marking 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila

Young steps for epidemic free Nepal Marking 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila

Paailas for Epedimic Free Nepal

“The journey that started to control diarrhea epidemic at Jajarkot and western part of Nepal in 2009 has continued for four years and will continue till we achieve epidemic free Nepal,” committed Buddha Bajracharya, Campaign coordinator at Paschim Paaila in “Diyo Lightning Program” at Swayambhunath on 17th July organized to celebrate 4th Anniversary of Paschim Paaila marking Peace of all departed soul due to Epidemic and Disaster in Nepal.

                                                                        “When we started our journey we did not do big things, we just distributed Piyush and Jeevan jal. It looks simple but this helped in overcoming the epidemic,” shared Giri Khatri, Immediate past president of Paschim Paaila. He also urged all the participants to join hands for achieving the goal of epidemic free Nepal. “We youths need to identify where we are needed the most, is it these less vulnerable urban areas or those vulnerable rural areas?” he motivated all.

 Bhusan Sir joining Paailas

Paailas (volunteers of Paschim Paaila) from different area and time period along with wannabe paailas and other supporters of Paschim Paaila team gathered at Swayabhunath and wished for its successful completion of four years and prayed peace to all the departed soul due to epidemic and disasters in Nepal on different time periods.

Environmentalists Bhusan Tuladhar and Shriju Pradhan along with employees of Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) joined the program to motivate all the Paailas to continue their good work. Congratulating Paschim Paaila for their four years completion, Kamal Tara Bajracharya, Youth Focal Person from Family Planning Association Nepal (FPAN) expressed that FPAN is willing to work in coordination with youths. Merina Shakya, Network coordinator of Paschim Paaila thanked all supporters and well-wishers and expected to get continuous help from all. Bhintuna Shrestha from Resource Centre Network Nepal (RCNN) praised all the activities of Paschim Paaila and wished for further development of team and epidemic free Nepal.

All the participants expressed their commitment to contribute for the epidemic free Nepal and light diyo to pray peace to the departed souls caused by epidemic.

The program ended with a group photograph with the slogan “Epidemic free Nepal: Let’s not face another epidemic in Nepal.”

By: Pratap Maharjan and Buddha Bajracharya

Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

Participants of Youth WASH Concern Workshop VI series

WASH Concern workshop is an interactive attempt of Paschim Paaila to incorporate youth in WASH. Here youth from different colleges were gathered to share their views and to boost up their knowledge in WASH. The VI series of WASH concern Workshop was conducted on 6^th July 2013 at Thames College with total of 24 participants.

Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu from ENPHO, Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan from UN-HABITAT and Mr. Sarbagya Shrestha from Water Aid Nepal were the key speaker of the Workshop.

Youths during the sessions

The program began with warm welcome from Event Coordinator Mr. Buddha Bajracharya who introduced Paschim Paaila , its vision, objectives, past activities, recent activities, upcoming plan and goal.. Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu from ENPHO started the session of "Water and hygiene including youth" where he discussed about Open defecation free (ODF), quality maintenance of water, some facts and figures about coverage of water in public and water pollution.

The second session which was of personal hygiene and health was facilitated by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan from UN-HABITAT who started the session with the comparison of human mind with the glass. Then description on personal hygiene was discussed. The session had lots of group works.

In the session mode of transmission of feaces and what and where can be the barrier to stop the transmission, critical condition of hand washing and hand washing technique were discussed. Different energizer games were played to entertain the participants.

Engagement in Games and Group work

The third session was of sanitation and waste management including role of youth which was facilitated by Mr. Sarbagya Shrestha from Water Aid Nepal. The session was started with the experience sharing from participants on open defecation. Mr. Shrestha then defined sanitation and its types; Improved sanitation, on site sanitation, Food sanitation, Environmental sanitation and Ecological sanitation.

Some facts about sanitation of our country were revealed during the session i.e. 62% of rural school has at least one toilet. 29% of total waste generated is generated by Kathmandu valley only. And only 45 % of total waste generated is collected. He also shared some triggering method in order to make people aware about need and importance of sanitation. Some live examples of proper utilization of waste were also discussed during the session.

Active Involvements of youths

He concluded youth as key for social change, most energetic and proactive age of life, critical mass for action and present leaders. The session was ended with the individual commitment of the participants and feedback collection. Participants rated the workshop as interactive, fun filled and informative.

"Youth Acuity about Nepal as Epidemic Free Nation"

"Youth Acuity about Nepal as Epidemic Free Nation"

 By Dibit Aryal

 International youth day was celebrated nationwide with the main theme “Building a Better World: Partnering with Youth” .Where as Paschim Paaila celebrated this great day by organizing debate program at City Hall, Exhibition road, in coordination with Youth NGO Federation Nepal. Debate was conducted among youths from different colleges, with the main objective of getting youth perception regarding Nepal as Epidemic Free nation. The topic of debate program was "EPIDEMIC FREE NEPAL: IS IT POSSIBLE?"  o'jfsf] kl/sNkgf M dfxfdf/L d'Í g]kfn ∕∕∕ s] of] ;Dej 5? Program was formally started by welcome speech of Ms. Merina Shakya, network coordinator of Paschim Paaila. She introduced the campaign “EPIDEMIC FREE NEPAL !!!” which was launched on 2010 by highlighting about the youth movement of Paschim Paaila.

After the introduction the floor was opened to the participants to express their thoughts. Program was conducted with more than forty participants from different colleges and institutions like National Institute of Health Science (NIHS), National Academy of Medical Science (NAMS), K &K College, Tri Chandra College, Valley College of Technical Science, National Open College (NOC), CIST College and the youth organization Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA). Among the participant half of them told that it is possible to make Nepal free of epidemic by expressing their views suggesting few points such as awareness program should be launched, making appropriate policy, public private and youth partnership. They also showed concern about the legal binding process which will make people aware and keep their surroundings clean. Similarly, half of them expressed their disagree about the topics and suggested to make it epidemic controlled Nepal. According to the participants view who was speaking against the campaign justified their views by providing few points as current literacy condition and unmeet demand of the locals. They also blamed the open international boundaries with different countries is as one of the major findings to spread diseases in our country.

Finally, the debate program was concluded by the vote of thanks and requesting the participants to express their solidarity through the commitment sheet by Mr. Phurba Sange Moktan.

“महामारी मुक्त नेपाल” का लागी युवाहरुको ऐक्यवद्धता

“महामारी मुक्त नेपाल” का लागी युवाहरुको ऐक्यवद्धता

- कमला के. सी./ ३१ साउन, २०६८   
प्राय युवाहरुको भिडभाड र लामो ताँती देख्ने वित्तिकै हामी सोच्ने गर्छौ कि कुनै आन्दोलन, चक्काजाम, विरोध  र्याली इत्यादी होला तर यदि यहि २०६८।०४।२७ गते (अन्तरास्त्रिय युवा दिवस-११) का दिन टेकुस्थित  स्वास्थ्य सेवा विभाग अगाडी तपाईले युवाहरुको ताँती देख्नुभएको थियो र त्यसलाई कुनै आन्दोलन होला भनेर वास्था नगरी हिड्नुभएको थियो भने तपाईले युवाहरुको एउटा राम्रो सुरुवातलाई नियाल्ने मौका गुमाउनु भएको छ । त्यस दिनको युवाहरुको कदमले नेपालका युवाहरु पनि आफ्नो देश र मातृभुमिको निम्ति लागी परिरहेको कुरा स्पष्ट हुन्छ ।

खानेपानी र सरसफाईको नाजुक स्थितले गर्दा हाम्रो देशमा आजसम्म पनि वर्षेनि १०,५०० बालबालिकाहरुले अकालमा ज्यान गुमाईरहेका छन् भने विभिन्न किसिमका पानी र सरसफाईजन्य रोगहरुको महामारीले पनि सयौँ मानिसहरुले ज्यान गुमाई रहेका छन्, जुन कुरालाई २०६६ सालको सुदुरपश्चिम र मध्यपश्चिमका जिल्लाहरुमा फैलिएको झाडापखला महामारीले पनि पुष्टि गर्दछ । यिनै कुराहरुमा केन्द्रित रहेर “नेपालमा फेरी अर्को महामारी नदोहोरीयोस्” भन्ने मुख्य नाराका साथ “महामारी मुक्त नेपाल” का लागी विभिन्न क्षेत्रसंग सम्बन्धित ३०० भन्दा बढी युवाहरुको जमातले नेपाल सरकार अन्र्तगत स्वास्थ्य मन्त्रालयको स्वास्थ्य सेवा विभागमा जम्मा भई सरकारले अहिले सम्म खानेपानी, सरसफाई र महामारीको क्षेत्रमा गर्दै आएको काम एकदमै राम्रो रहेको र यसलाई अझ राम्रो र प्रभाबकारी बनाउन आफुहरु सधै तत्पर रहेको भन्दै ऐक्यवद्धता जनाएका छन् ।

उक्त कार्यक्रममा सम्पुर्ण युवाहरुको तर्फवाट ऐक्यवद्धता पत्र सहित हस्ताक्षर गरिएको कपडा “महामारी तथा रोग नियन्त्रण साखा” का साखा उपप्रमुख डा. मुरारी प्रसाद उपाध्याय लाई हस्तान्तरण गरिएको थियो । कार्यक्रमको समापन पुर्व कार्यक्रमा उपस्थित अतिथिहरु अनिल चित्रकार (सामाजिक उद्यमी), आशुतोष तिवारी (राष्ट्रिय संयोजक वाटर एड नेपाल), राजेश अधिकारी (प्रोमोसनल मेनेजर, एन्फो), रमन नेपाली (सामाजिक कार्यमा क्रियाशिल युवा) आदीले आफ्नो मन्तव्य राख्नु भएको थियो । “युवाहरु राष्ट्रका कर्णधार हुन्, हजारौ युवाहरु विदेशिदै गरेको समयमा यसरी युवाहरु “महामारी मुक्त नेपाल” को लागी एकजुट हुनु राम्रो सुरुवात हो र यसललाई निरन्तरता दिनु पर्छ” भन्दै सामाजिक उद्यमी अनिल चित्रकारले युवाहरुलाई हौसला दिनुभएको थियो । 

अन्त्यमा, “महामारी तथा रोग नियन्त्रण साखा” का साखा उपप्रमुख डा. मुरारी प्रसाद उपाध्यायले ऐक्यवद्धता पत्र ग्रहण गर्दै “युवाहरुको यो सहयोगलाई आत्मासाथ गर्दै आउदा दिनहरुमा “महामारी मुक्त नेपाल” का लागी युवाहरुसंग संगै हातेमालो गर्ने र सरकारको तर्फबाट सक्दो सहयोग गर्नेछौ” भन्दै कार्यक्रमको समापन गरिएको थियो । उक्त कार्यक्रमलाई “पश्चिम पाईला” नामक युवा संजालले सहजिकरण गरेको थियो ।