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MoH to introduce vaccine against pneumonia
May 2, 2018
The health ministry’s high-level committee has approved the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) into the routine immunisation services.
This means, the vaccine, which prevents transmission of pneumococcal bacterial diseases such as pneumonia, otitis media, bacteraemia and meningitis in children under 5 years will now be injected to children below one year. The ministry is planning to introduce the vaccine early next year.
Health secretary Dr Ugen Dophu said the ministry wrote to the Bhutan Health Trust Fund (BHTF) on April 3 for budgetary support to introduce the vaccine into the routine immunisation services. “We are discussing with the BHTF on this.”
An economic evaluation was done with technical assistance from Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Programme in Thailand after the National Committee for Immunisation Practice recommended the ministry to introduce PCV into the routine immunisation services.
A study was conducted to determine the cost-utility and outcomes of 10 – and 12 –valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV 10 and PCV 13) compared to no vaccination in Bhutan.
The study recommended that both PC vaccines are cost effective and provide good value for money at the suggested threshold level of one GDP per capita equivalent to Nu 176,000.
The study found that compared to no vaccination, implementing either of the vaccines would prevent an estimate of 2,003 and 2,916 episodes of pneumococcal disease in the vaccinated population. Further, 214 and 261 episodes of pneumococcal disease would be prevented in the unvaccinated populations due to herd protection.
The study also found that an estimate of 28 and 42 pneumococcal deaths would be averted by introducing PCV10 and PCV13, respectively.
It would cost about Nu 11.64M (million) to introduce PCV 13 into the routine immunisation services in the first year.
PCV 13 costs a little more than PCV 10. But, health officials said it yields better health outcomes.
The budget analysis conducted over five year period considering the inclusion of PCV 10 or 13 in the routine immunisation services shows that about Nu 206.41M (million) is expected to be spent in the next five years as treatment cost of pneumonia and associated diseases if PCV vaccine is not introduced.
However, if introduced, the treatment cost is expected to decline by 8.5 percent and 13.6 percent respectively for PCV10 or PCV13.
In an earlier interview with Kuensel, director general of the department of medical services, Dr Pandup Tshering, said that the ministry first looks at the disease burden before introducing a vaccine. “Disease burden is based on the administrative data which means we are looking at people who visit the hospital and get treatment.”
According to the Annual Health Bulletin 2017, a total of 3,404 pneumonia cases were reported to the outpatient departments in all hospitals in 2016. Out of this, about 58 percent (1989) were in children below 5 years.
A total of 1,064 otitis media, an ear infection caused by pneumococcal bacteria outpatient cases were reported in children below 5 years. Of the total 160-inpatient cases with the infection, 53 were children below 5 years.
In 2016, about 198 meningitis/encephalitis inpatient cases were reported, out of which about 119 cases were in children below 5 years. A total of 3,150 pneumonia inpatient cases were reported the same year, of which, 2,117 were children below 5-years-old.
Pneumonia has claimed 325 lives while 135 died of meningitis in the last five years. About 76 died of pneumonia and 47 of meningitis in 2016.
A laboratory officer with Essential Medicines and Technology Division (EMTD), Pempa in an earlier interview, said the government spends huge resources on treating of Pneumonia, Otitis Media and Meningitis, especially among the children.
“If we implement PCV 13 we will be able to save more lives and the costs in long run,” he said.
Dechen Tshomo
Inconsistent legal actions in sexual abuse of minors: NCWC
April 30, 2018
Sixty percent of the perpetrators involved in sexual violence against children are someone known to the child, according to an assessment on minor rape cases by the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC).
Of the 60 percent, 15.56 percent of the perpetrators were found to be incest, which means it includes biological father, relatives and siblings. The rest of the perpetrators were neighbours, family friends, or people whom children looked up to for guidance or as role models.
The assessment reviewed 45 cases of sexual offense against children that were with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). It found that there were not only discrepancies in the legal actions taken against such cases, but were also not strong to deter such actions.
The 45 cases were from 2009 – 2015 and prosecuted by the OAG across 20 dzongkhags. The case includes rape, attempt to rape, statutory rape of minor, molestation, and sexual harassment.
Works and human settlement minister Dorji Choden, who is also a chairperson of the commission, said that a small assessment was carried out to see the actions taken on the minor rape cases.
“Although the felonies have been enhanced during the amendments, we felt that the rape of child should be very stringent,” she said. “There is a need to improve the way cases are prosecuted including the forensic services.”
Lyonpo also said that NCWC is looking into instituting women and child welfare committees and appointing protection officers in all dzongkhags where such cases could be reported. “This is going beyond prevention and precautionary measures where society should also be a watch dog.”
However, stating the sensitivity of the findings, the commission did not share the report and its findings of the court procedures and legal actions. The commission’s senior legal officer, Ugyen Tshomo, said that it was an in-house assessment conducted to find out the lapses.
She said that the main purpose of the assessment, which was conducted sometime in 2016, was to see the existing gaps in the law and its implementation.
The commission’s director, Kunzang Lhamo, in an article that was recently published in Kuensel, said that the country’s preventive and protection system is weak with many gaps and challenges. “But if supported with adequate financial and human resources, the efforts spent in developing legislations, policies, guidelines, SOPs and coordination mechanisms will not be wasted.”
Ugyen Tshomo said the assessment also found lack of awareness and ignorance especially on the consensual age, but there were perpetrators who have also used consensual age as an excuse.
The assessment also revealed that sexual offenses against children are committed in both urban and rural areas where most of the victims are from low-income families.
“With such assessment as an intervention and based on the findings, we’re working on a national plan of action for childcare wellbeing to ensure protection of a child,” Ugyen Tshomo said. “We’ve also started a central management information system linking other agencies to capture details on violence against women and children.”
However, the assessment has not looked into the probation period of security clearance for a convict after serving the sentences.
At the education dialogue on April 19, NCWC director, Kunzang Lhamo said that a study on violence against children conducted by the commission found that more than 60 percent of children aged 13-17 years have experienced physical violence including bullying and corporal punishment once in a lifetime.
“When we look at the result, it is not really a question of whether our ministries or the government or CSOs are doing their job or not,” she said, adding care and protection of a child boils down right to the households.
She said the outside body cannot impose intervention but it should start from home because there is only so much institutions, the government and schools could do.
“I think it all comes out from how children are brought up and this is something that we really want to insist on, the environment, in which a child grows up,” Kunzang Lhamo said. “I am not saying institutions and government should stop doing the good work that is being done. Although people are being reactive to such incidences, we have to also open a window of opportunity to strengthen the efforts that we are doing.”
The NCWC is currently dealing with 31 cases received from January to April this year, which includes children in difficulties, destitute, rape victims, sexual harassment, violence against women, children in conflict with the law, matrimonial cases, and trafficking in person.
The commission would also initiate the Toll Free Helpline Services (1098) in October this year to provide 24/7 counselling and immediate referral services for women and children in need of care and support.
Yangchen C Rinzin
No red panda caught on cameras
May 2, 2018
Sightings of the red panda in the highlands have decreased in recent years
Almost two years after officials of the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWC) installed 10 camera traps, not a single red panda has been caught on the cameras.
Highlanders of Merak and Sakteng used to see the extremely elusive red panda frequently a decade ago.
The highlanders say portions of their winter pasturelands were home to the endangered species in the SWC.
Given the red colour of the animal, locals believe red pandas were the reincarnation of a monk and encountering the rare mammal was considered a good omen.
SWC officials also say that the sightings of the red panda in the highlands have considerably decreased in recent years.
The park officials installed 10 camera traps in Shetaymay and Chebaling areas, where red pandas were spotted occasionally.
Officials said habitat fragmentation and degrading land due to overgrazing and other natural phenomena like landslides are some of the biggest threats to the endangered species.
In order to review and discuss red panda research and conservation strategies in Bhutan, a three-day workshop on red panda conservation with the theme “Ensuring the future of red panda landscapes through national and regional collaboration” began in Trashigang yesterday.
One of the participants, Pema Dendup, a forest officer with the Jigme Dorji National Park, said that the presence of livestock had a direct correlation to the red panda habitation. “Since bamboos are the main food for the red pandas, the presence of cattle that also feed on the bamboo creates intense competition which is why livestock disturbed areas is avoided by the species.”
He also said that livestock are often allowed to stray in forests without restraint, unaccompanied by herders.
Pema Dendup in one of his researches conducted on Red Pandas in Phrumsengla National Park (then Thrumshingla National Park) found that besides the livestock disturbed areas, red pandas avoided human settlements and areas with timber disturbances.
“Human settlement is generally associated with the presence of dogs and dogs are one of the main threats to the red pandas,” he said. Activities such as logging and collection of bamboo were also some of the reasons cited in the research as threats to the red panda habitat.
The research recommended livestock grazing practice be minimised in protected areas where red panda conservation is a priority.
Bamboo restoration activities could offset damage or loss of bamboo as a result of anthropogenic activities (timber harvesting), he added.
“Until the impacts of anthropogenic activities are accounted and mitigated, protected area coverage should not be considered an adequate measure of the conservation of red panda,” said Pema Dendup.
Joanne Millar (PhD) with the Charles Sturt University in Australia said that Bhutan lacks coordination among stakeholders in understanding red pandas and the need to conserve the endangered species.
“There is a lack of information on red pandas among the Bhutanese. They do not see the red pandas as an iconic species,” she said. “Globally the number of red pandas are declining and the animals in Bhutan are also faced with similar threats.”
Joanne Millar said that in an effort to conserve the species in the SWC, a three-year project called ‘sustainable rangeland management for red panda conservation and herder livelihoods’ was initiated last year.
The project funded by Darwin Initiative, a UK government grant scheme, focuses on improving the degraded rangelands by planting bamboos, providing fences around the protected area and improving the pasturelands.
The project is currently working on improving the winter grazing land of Shetaymay and Chebaling in Merak. “People used to spot the red pandas in these places a decade ago. Today it is all degraded due to over grazing,” she said.
Joanne Millar said that at the end of the workshop, a draft national conservation action plan for red panda would be developed. “We can then discuss ways to link Bhutan to wider international conservation networks,” she said. “Designing projects and availing funds for red panda conservation activities could also be enhanced once the action plan is developed.”
A total of 30 participants including park managers, researchers, representatives from WWF (Bhutan and India) and officials from the Department of Forest and Park Services are attending the workshop.
Meanwhile, of the 10 parks identified in the country, seven (thirteen dzongkhags) of them house the endangered red panda. Officials said that a study on the number of red panda in the country has not been conducted yet.
Categorised as endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, an estimated 10,000 matured red pandas are distributed among five Asian countries of Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
The workshop is organized by Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary.
Younten Tshedup | Trashigang
BBS Laya to receive 3G by October
Sherub Dorji, Laya
Apr 30, 2018
Mobile network made its way into Laya in 2010, five years before electricity did. The highland community is now only months away from getting 3G service.
The service is expected to be introduced by October this year.
Teachers at Laya Lower Secondary School believe access to faster internet will help bring about a sea change in the teaching and learning process.
“It will be beneficial for both the teachers and the students,” Phub Gyeltshen, a teacher at Laya Lower Secondary School said.
“It will help the teachers in expanding our knowledge, which will have positive impacts on the quality of education.”
Thinley Rabgay, another teacher, echoed the same feelings. “Access to internet in our school would aid teaching and learning process immensely,” he said.
“Students can explore on their own to gain a broader understanding of the topics taught in classes. Teachers can do the same, which will help us teach better.”
Young people in the village too are looking forward to receiving 3G service. “We will be able to keep track of all new things,” Leki Om said.
Bhutan Telecom (BT) is the only mobile service provider in Laya. “We have transferred all the fibre cables to Laya, and after July, we will procure all required equipment and start installation works,” BT’s Gasa Officer In-Charge Penjor Gyeltshen said.
“Our work will complete before the Royal Highland Festival.”
Bhutan Telecom will carry out the works with support from the Department of Information Technology and Telecom.
Managing waste along Thimphu-Phuentshogling highway gets tougher
Sonam Penjor, Phuentshogling
Apr 29, 2018
BBS
Managing waste along the Thimphu-Phuentshogling highway is becoming increasingly challenging by the day.
Despite several cleaning campaign and awareness programmes, the litter problem along the highway never seems to be addressed.
Yesterday, over 4000 students, civil servants, DeSuups, business communities and residents cleaned the route from Chudzom till Rinchending.
They collected about 150 metric tons of trash
The clean-up exercise was held following the resolution of last month’s Dzongkhag Tshogdu session.
The Geling Gewog’s Gup, Phub Dorji told BBS: “People who travel along the highway through empty juice bottles, water bottles and other waste. Such habit really makes the places nearby the highway dirty.”
The Road Safety Transport Authority (RSTA) in Chhukha had done a survey to determine the targeted litterers. “They are travellers by bus and taxis, and regional tourists who throw trash carelessly along the way,” said Nado, the RSTA Representative in Chhukha.
The Chhukha Dzongdag, Minjur Dorji said the wastes thrown at places near the highway have hampered the otherwise pristine nature of the district.
“I request the commuters and motorists to not to throw wastes along the road. Please bear in mind that the waste will not make the surroundings look unpleasant but poses health risks too.”
Thousands of people travel along highway daily. The dzongkhag administration along with the stakeholders is finding suitable ways and measures to address the litter issue along the highway to a great extent.
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The managing director of Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation, Chhewang Rinzin, talks about how to minimise the negative impacts of the country’s big dam plans
Very interesting interview
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Sexual harassment and violence against women and children ...
The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) expresses deep concern on the recent occurrences on the protection issues related to women and children in the country.
Sexual harassment and violence against women and children hidden, perpetuated and underreported
The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) expresses deep concern on the recent occurrences on the protection issues related to women and children in the country. This calls for strengthened protection services and strong collaboration amongst the concerned agencies and the acceptance of responsibilities by every individual.
With the complexities of protection issues women and children are faced with,the NCWC is stepping up preventive and response programs to strengthen the protection system. In collaboration with key partner stakeholders, several interventions are underway to strengthen the protection system for women and children:
-Operationalising the Standard Operating Procedures on Case Management and Referrals for Women and Children in Difficult Circumstances, which streamlines the roles of different organisations dealing with the protection issues of women and children towards institutionalising an effective and sustainable protection mechanism;
-Implementation of the Central Management Information System which facilitates online case management with all the concerned service providers and houses disaggregated data on women and children;
-The Toll Free Helpline Services (1098), which is scheduled to be launched in October 2018 will provide 24/7 counselling and immediate referral services for women and children in need of care and support;
-Work is underway for the establishment of Woman and Child Welfare Committees and appointment of Protection Officers in all the Dzongkhags and Thromdes to undertake case management and increase timely and effective access to protection and response services;
-Building specialised capacities of service providers; and
-Strengthening and stepping up sensitisation, advocacy and capacity building programmes at all levels particularly in the schools, institutions and communities.
Consistent efforts are being made on preventive measures through increasing awareness and providing disaggregated data with analysis on women and child protection issues. However, such issues are widespread and under-reported. According to the Violence Against Children Report of Bhutan 2016, only 1 in 10 children told someone about their experience of sexual violence or harassment, with the vast majority telling their peers. This indicates that such issues mostly stay hidden, perpetuated and unaddressed. 12.8 percent of children suffered from sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. The elimination of violence requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders in particular of those under whom children are placed for care and protection. There is no place for complacency and it is important that all providers of care are accountable, stringently monitored and guidelines and SOPs are fully enforced.
It is time that we acknowledge the truth that social issues are on the rise and if not nipped in the bud, it can be catastrophic. The country’s preventive and protection system is weak with many gaps and challenges but if supported with adequate financial and human resources, the efforts spent in developing legislations, policies, guidelines, SOPs and coordination mechanisms will not be wasted. Full commitment and awareness is a must, from the policy makers to the implementers and players at the community and household levels. Violence against children and women is a social evil that can erode and leave long lasting scars on a society that upholds values of compassion and kindness. Care and protection of children must start from home with parents and caregivers providing the love and care that children have a right to. Schools and institutes need to strengthen their vigilance and have a stronger integration of child sensitive actions in their policies and guidelines. Besides sexual molestation and abuse, children are subject to bullying, corporal punishment, emotional and psychological abuse and neglect.
The National Commission for Women and Children is committed to address all forms of violence against women and children including physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse. A collaborative approach is being taken with its various stakeholder partners to provide the necessary care and support and all citizens are urged to report on cases of violation of the rights of women and children. All efforts are being made to strengthen the prevention and protection system through the provision of a sustainable continuum of care and response services.
Contributed by
Kunzang Lhamo
Director
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Long delayed Amochhu Bridge finally set to open next month BBS
Sonam Penjor, Phuentshogling
Apr 7, 2018
After missing five deadlines, the much-awaited Amochhu Bridge, which connects Phuentshogling and Samtse, is finally expected to open to traffic by the end of next month.
The construction of the 175-metre long double-lane bridge began a decade ago.
The structural works have all been completed and now other works, such as painting, electrification, post-tensioning and approach road are going on in full swing.
The bridge is the country’s first three dimensional (3D), parabolic semi-through arch bridge.
It has been a long time coming and as the bridge finally nears completion, the people on either side, particularly those in Samtse, are elated.
“For the teachers in Panbari School and people nearby, this bridge will be of great help,” Yeshi Nidup a teacher of the school said
“Currently, even if we have cars, it’s of no use. We have to leave the car on the other side and carry everything on our backs and use the Suppesion Bridge to cross over. Some people ride their bikes, which I think is not very safe. We hope the bridge would be ready for use soon.”
Sonam Dendup, a contractor based Dorokha in Samtse, says he has to make frequent trips to Phuentshogling to buy construction materials.
“It takes us at least six hours to reach Dorokha via India. But from here, it is just two hours drive. Though the roads are wider in India, it is safer to use this road, so we prefer to use the internal route.”
The Nu 245 m bridge will connect Samtse’s Dorokha, Doomtoed and Duenchhukha Gewogs and Haa to Phuentshogling.
As of now, people travel via Indian highway to reach Samtse. But, once this bridge is complete, the travel distance between Phuentshogling and Samtse will be reduced by nearly 20 kilometres.
Doctors urge early detection and treatment of cancer
Kuensel
April 7, 2018
Anim (nun) Bidha felt a lump in her right breast. It was a painless lump and so she did not give much attention to it.
Three years after her retreat, she heard that one of her friends, also a nun at Shechen Orgyen Chodzong nunnery in Sisina in Thimphu, went to the national referral hospital for a check-up because she felt a lump on her breast.
“I told my friend about it and she told me that I should visit the hospital as it could be a cancer,” said Bidha. But then, she did not go the hospital.
“After a few months, I felt the lump grow,” Bidha said. It was a cancer indeed.
Upon learning that she had breast cancer, Bidha was devastated. She thought she was going to die. “My friends and family members were unusually good to me. Maybe they thought I had only so much time to live.”
She underwent surgery at the national referral hospital in 2014, not long after the cancer was discovered. She kept herself mentally strong, healthy physically and spiritually. “There were other cancer patients at the hospital; not many survived.”
Upon Onco-surgeon, Dr Tashi Dendup Wangdi’s recommendation, Bidha went to a hospital in Siliguri, India for mammography to confirm cancer had not spread to her other breast. It hadn’t.
“I am feeling wonderful. I feel much better each year. Half the battle is won if you are strong. You can get through it. Of course, the support of family and friends is very important,” Bidha said.
Whenever people hear the word ‘cancer,’ she said they think about dying but not all cancer patients die. “They do get better if diagnosed early and get treated.”
Anybody could get cancer, she said, and recommended people to get blood tested every once in a while.
Records with JDWNRH show that more than 2,000 cancer cases were registered in the last four years, which means at least 500 new cancer cases are reported to the hospital every year.
Gynaecologist Dr Ugyen Tshomo said Bhutan has many upper gastro-intestinal cancers, which include cancer of stomach and food pipe. The other most common cancer is hepato-biliary cancer, which includes cancers of the bile ducts, liver or gallbladder.
“These two cancers have the highest mortality,” she said. “Most of the hepato-biliary cancer patients die soon after they are diagnosed.”
However, Dr Ugyen Tshomo said the cause of these cancers and the reason why hepato-biliary cancer patients die soon is not clear as no one had carried out a study on it.
Before, Lung cancer was rare in Bhutan. But now, it is among the top five to six cancers in Bhutan, she added.
According to the Annual Health Bulletin 2017, a total of 127 deaths were due to cancer in 2016, seven was due to Oesophagus cancer, eight due to stomach or gastric cancer, and three due to hepato-biliary cancer.
Dr Ugyen Tshomo said that most Bhutanese do not have the habit of visiting hospital until they really have to. By the time they visit, it is usually too late and most of the surgeries done are palliative.
“In Bhutan, many people disappear after being diagnosed with cancer and they reappear after a few months with advanced cancer. This affects survival,” she said.
She said that health workers should be aware of such cases. “Now, if we find that a patient has been suffering from stomach ache for a longer period of time, we send them for endoscopy because the process can detect tumours in the stomach,” she said. “If stomach cancer is diagnosed early and is treated, patients survive.”
Dr Ugyen Tshomo said cancers of cervix, breast and thyroid are seen mostly in young women. She added that about 50 percent of the patients diagnosed with cervical cancer between 2000 and 2005 are alive. “To study how many deaths and survivors are there from cancer is equally important so a study is necessary.”
The hospital also sees more number of recurrent cancer cases, Dr Ugyen Tshomo said. “They are at more risk of dying. In the first two years after diagnosis and treatment of cancer, follow up should be frequent because most of the cancers re-occur in the first two to three years.”
Recurrent cancer, if detected early, can be cured, she added.
Dechen Tshomo
Sonam Pem, Thimphu
Apr 7, 2018
Tshejor’s Ayzey, the first registered homemade pickle manufacturing company and distributor took the first prize of Nu 70,000 at the first National Trademark Award yesterday.
Bhutan Alternatives, an e-waste management project dealing with printer toner cartridge waste, won the second prize of Nu 50,000.
Crystal Moon Products that deals with all types of agro produce, providing food supplements in the country as well as neighboring countries, came third winning Nu 30,000.
This is the first time the economic affairs ministry held a National Trademark Award for the small and cottage industries.
The award is an effort to promote brand competition, leading to quality products in the market.
A trademark is a name or a symbol that a company uses on its products and cannot legally be used by another company.
The winners said trademark has helped in building a name and reputation for their products in the market.
“It helped me in branding and diversification of my products,” Tshewang Dema of Tshejor Ayzey said. “I could make more products and it helped in popularizing the products.”
“Within two years of getting the trademark, we have been able to cover up almost 19 dzongkhags,” Leki Dawa of Bhutan Alternatives said.
“We were able to build trust and reliability among the customers,” Chhimi Dema of Crystal Moon Product said. “There are also no risks of replication of products by others.”
The businesses were assessed based on the use of trademarks, sale of products using the trademark, employment and community development and overall business impact.
The introduction of the award is also in keeping with the Intellectual Property Policy 2018 launched last month and is one of the measures to encourage innovation and creativity.
“They use trademarks as their product brand and that generates brand competition, which leads to improvement of the quality of goods and services,” Kinley Tenzin Wangchuk, the Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property said.
“The other significant role is trademarks really help enterprises to distinguish themselves in our market.”
The ministry plans to make the trademark award an annual event.
It will encourage more small, individual and home-based entrepreneurs to create and register their trademarks to enhance their competitiveness in the market.
Laya’s traditional hat under threat of disappearance
Sherub Dorji, Gasa
Apr 8, 2018
Laya’s traditional bamboo hat, once widely worn by its women, is fast disappearing. There aren’t many weavers left around now and the women too seldom wear their the hats.
The hat is an integral part of the highlander’s culture. In the past, Layap women wore it every day. But now it is worn only during special occasions like Tshechu.
Today, there are only three weavers of the hat left in Laya. The younger generations are showing no interest in learning the art, putting the tradition at the risk of disappearance.
Chimi Dem and her husband are Laya’s two of the last three remaining weavers of the hat.
Chimi is afraid it wouldn’t be long before the traditional hats are replaced by imported ones. “If at all the hat is not woven here, I am sure replicas of the hat made from plastic in India will make its way into Laya,” she said.
Chimi learned the art from her late father. She has woven hundreds of hats over the last 15 years. It takes her an entire day to finish one hat, which fetches her 600 ngultrum.
She is upset that nothing is being done to preserve the traditional hat. “It would be good if the young show interest in learning the art as it would help keep our hat tradition alive,” she said.
She says she is happy to teach but as of now, no one has come forward to learn.
Many women in Laya now prefer kira over their traditional dress. This, Chimi Dem said, is one reason why the hat is becoming a rarity.
“We have to put on the hat if we wear zum, which is our traditional attire. This is our tradition. We don’t wear the hat when we wear kira, but young women these days prefer kira. The hat tradition might disappear soon.”
Like remote, traditional cultures elsewhere in the country, this is, perhaps, Laya paying the price for opening up to the outside world and the so called modernization.
Improving disaster resilience of cultural heritage sites
Sonam Pem, Thimphu
Apr 8, 2018
During the 2009 and 2011 earthquakes, many of the country’s cultural heritage sites suffered major damage. In an effort to enhance the resilience of these sites, a four day workshop is underway in Thimphu.
During the workshop, the Department of Culture, together with relevant stakeholders and experts, will come up with a guideline for addressing different types of hazards that heritage sites are vulnerable to.
“What we have realized with the recent forest fire is how prepared are we and what is the role of the heritage professionals when it comes to preparedness as well as post disaster recovery and reconstruction,” Nagtsho Dorji, the Chief Architect of the Department of Culture said.
“It is very important for us to now move on from the technological aspects of how do we build back better to understanding how can we be more prepared and make sure that our cultural heritage sites do not have to go through problems faced during earlier disasters ,” Nagtsho Dorji added.
The cost of damage to heritage sites from the 2009 and 2011 earthquakes is estimated to be US $20 m.
BBS Mass plantation of Daphne saplings for its revival in Trashi Yangtse
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Apr 9, 2018
8
In Trashi Yangtse District, traditional Desho paper makers are finding it difficult to get Daphne bark from the nearby forest. The reason is due to over extraction, the bark is now on the verge of extinction.
Gonpola, 65 from Phanteng village under Boomdeling Gewog has been making desho for 27 years now. But, he told BBS that unlike in the past, the Daphne barks (the main materials to make desho) are no longer grown in profusion.
Gonpola added that he has to travel to another village, which is about four hours walk from the nearest road point to get the bark. “With increased in production, the bark has become less. Some people extract it and sell to others. So we bring the bark from Merag, Sagteng and Monggar.”
However, to address the shortage, Trashi Yangtse Boomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary has planted around 1,500 wild Daphne saplings in Panglakarpo community forest last year. More programmes are in the offing to revive the Daphne trees.
“In the 12th Five-Year-Plan, we have plans to plant Daphne saplings on 200-300 acres of land,” said Chief Forestry Officer, Karma Tempa of Boomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary.
For desho paper makers, this initiative is giving them hope. “If the saplings grow well, it will surely benefit all of us- who are into desho paper making business,” said Gonpola.
Today, Trashi Yangtse has three desho manufacturing cottage industries.
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