Bhutan Observed World AIDS Day

As the nation observed World AIDS Day yesterday in Zhemgang, health officials said that harmful practices in the village like ear and nose piercing with the same sharpened bamboo sticks, using the same scissors to cut hair, and the same razor blade to cut skin and suck out blood to cure headaches need to be done away with.

“Despite a multi-sectoral task force functioning in the dzongkhag, all sections of people, including students and civil servants, don’t have clear knowledge on HIV/AIDS,” said the public health director Dr Ugyen Dophu, after the question-answer session, where students and the public of Zhemgang asked various basic questions on HIV/AIDS. “Ignorance is a big challenge in Zhemgang dzongkhag.”

Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, told the gathering of about 900 people that December 1 is the day observed to show compassion to all HIV positive patients and commit to prevent the disease. “It’s not important to know who is infected with HIV/AIDs, but what’s important is to know how to protect from infection,” she said, adding that those infected should not spread it to others.

Of the 33 million people infected with HIV/AIDS around the world, 185 are in Bhutan.

According to Dr Ugyen Dophu, anti retroviral drugs (ARD), given to HIV/AIDS patients, are only available in the three referral hospitals of Gelephu, Mongar and Thimphu. “When HIV positive people come for the CD4 count (a CD4 count below 200 indicates serious immune damage), their blood is sent to any of the referral hospitals,” he said. “The patient has to go to the referral hospital in the initial phase, but the hospital decides whether he needs ARD or not.”

Referral hospitals send patients, along with medicines, to the hospital that is nearer to the patient’s place of residence. “The health staff in the locality will have to advise the patients monthly as the drug is very toxic,” Dr Ugyen Dophu explained. “With limited budget, the government can’t spread anti retroviral drugs to every district hospital, but training the health staff would be best for good access.”

The UN resident coordinator, Ms Claire Van der Vaeren said that the UN is committed to support the government in halting the HIV epidemic, by working together and making changes together. “It means change from exclusion to inclusion, from indifference to responsibility and from fear to hope.”

Chimi Lhadon, 40, from Tali village, told Kuensel that, in her village, the moment people talk about an HIV/AIDS patient, they directly link it to people of loose morals. “Today I knew that AIDS can also be incidentally transmitted through blood route,” the mother of four said, adding that she will go and advise her children to be careful.

Zhemgang dzongkhag has about eight HIV/AIDS patients.

Source: Kuenselonline

His Majesty the King granted kidu to 681 earthquakeaffected households

Assuring every necessary support to victims of natural disasters, His Majesty the King granted kidu to 681 earthquakeaffected households yesterday morning in Tongshang gewog, Trashiyangtse.

This also includes three households in Tongshang whose homes were gutted by fire.

Speaking to the victims, His Majesty said that Bhutan is different from the rest of the world, because the people and the government share a strong bond of unity and brotherhood. “Thus, we share our joys as well as our sorrows. In this way we’re very lucky, we are a very lucky society,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty said that the eople in the villages are very hardworking and deserving of kidu. The kidu money would be well used to rebuild newer homes and livelihood.

“You (the villagers) are a major portion of our population. Moreover, you are the foundation of our country. It is therefore, very important for you to invest the money (kidu) to build better homes to last for many generations,” His Majesty said.

Upon His Majesty’s command, 13 heavy-duty vehicles were procured to help the rebuilding process. Over 500 army personnel have been deployed in Durung and Wamrong to help the victims rebuild their homes. A special unit of engineers and architects would oversee the project.

Local authorities said that the villagers heavily depend on the kidu money and the insurance compensation to rebuild their homes.

Jamkhar gup, Jigme Norbu said, “Most villagers cannot rebuild their homes without soelra and all the special help provided by His Majesty.” The September 21 earthquake and the aftershocks damaged 140 houses in the gewog alone. Ten homes totally collapsed.

Changlu’s family still sleeps in the shed beside his damaged home. “We need to rebuild our home at the earliest because the children are suffering. Now that His Majesty has granted us both land and money we need nothing more,” he said.

His Majesty granted land kidu of 832 acres to 945 thram holders in Tongshang gewog exempting them of Nu 17.93 million in compensation towards the government.

Later in the evening, in Trashigang, His Majesty met and granted soelra to the villagers of Merak and Sakteng.

Earlier on Nov 28, His Majesty joined the people of Trashigang at the last day of the Trashigang tshechu. The joy of attending the tshechu was simply beyond words for thousands of people who gathered in Trashigang for the annual tshechu. His Majesty also offered prayers at the Sacred Guru Tshengyed kunchham.

“This is a historic moment for us,” said a civil servant.

“As far as I can remember not even senior officials attended our tshechu. With His Majesty attending the tshechu is a great memory,” said Sonam Dorji from Samkhar.

Later in the day, His Majesty granted kidu to 1,114 villagers from nine gewogs under Trashigang dzongkhag.

Of the total number of households that received kidu, 21 houses were damaged by windstorm in October and two houses destroyed by fire, one each in Bidung and Samkhar. His Majesty also granted tokha to the people.

Wangmo from Shongphu, whose house collapsed, now sees a glimpse of hope to rebuild her home. “I think my family can afford to rebuild our home with the ready assistance provided to us. With His Majesty personally overseeing things it’s assured we’ll live in a proper house,” she said.

His Majesty leaves for Udzorong and Wamrong today.

Source: Kuenselonline

Inter Departmental Tournamnet Updates

In yesterdays match of Inter Departmental Tournament Knockout match the result was as follows:

First Match:
RTC (Royal Thimphu College) beats RSTA (Road Safety and Transport Authority) 10:1

Second Match:
Bhutan Post beats Druk Wangyel 2:1

So now Bhutan Post will face BMT in Quarter Final on the 3rd of December 2009 at 3:30 pm

BMT FC, Inter Department Football Tournament

A Harick from Sushil Helped his team BMT book a palace in the quarter finals of the Inter Departmental Tournament. In the first match of the knockout round of the journey, BMT beat Bhutan Telecom 6:2 yestarday.

Bhutan Telecom looked determined and tried to maintain the lead in the game. The clock ticked only fourteen and they got their first goal when Karma Wangdi flipped in a header from their corner

BMT were trying desperately for an equalizer but luck was not on their side and in the 35th minutes a goalkeeping blunder by the BMT goalkeeper, Chencho helped Bhutan Telecom to find another goal. It was an easy catch but due to poor judgment by Chencho, the ball slipped from his hand and was rolling towards the goal, Tshering Norbu of Bhutan Telecom made no errors and toed the ball into the net pushing up the score line to 2:0.

However, the BMT did not lose hope. They played their game making attempts after attempts though non went into the opponent goal post. Eventually their persistent effort paid off in the 40th minutes when Kencho Tobgay made a spectacular goal by slamming into the net o cross ball from his teammate Yeshi.

The goal gave them the boost and BMT were then urgently looking for an equalizer. But before that the whistle for the half time was blown.

After the break, the BMT came in more energized but their much sough equalizer came in only in the 58th minutes when Tashi Phuntsho’s fare attempt from the near the centre line found the nets. It as a draw then and both the teams fought hard racing towards finding a winning goal.

BMT made a timely substation and Sushil came in. He changed the whole course of the game and snatched the game from the hand of the Bhutan Telecom. It was in the 75th minutes only a few minutes after his appearance into the game when Sushil scored the winning goal for his team. After fetching a pass from his team mate Nidup, he dribbled the ball past the Bhutan Telecom defenders and majestically slipped the ball into the net.

After that goal, the BMT’ took full control of the game. In the 85th Minutes Sushil netted in his second goal the score board read 4:2 for BMT and only a minute after in the 86th minutes, Sushil made his hatrick and his team mate Yeshi scored another in the 89th minutes, pushing the final score to 6:2 for BMT

Today, RSTA will take on Royal Thimphu College in the first match at 1.30 pm and Druk Wangyel will play against Bhutan Post in the second match that is scheduled at 3.30Pm.

Bhutan Majestic Travel FC, Inter Department Football Tournament

Yestarday was the last match of the Inter Departmental Tournament League Round and the match was played between Meet Pool and Bhutan Majestic Travel (BMT).

Bhutan Majestic Travel FC wrapped up Runners up spot in Inter Departmental Tournament Champions League Group G with a game to spare with a win against Meet Pool yesterday in the last match of league round. Jigme N. Norbu the mid fielder, Free Kick goal from 28 Yards on the 32 Minutes was enough for BMT to qualify to the Super 16. He was giving all his best efforts even thou he was injured and he played full game of 98 minutes.

The BMT were holding the ball and making all their best chances, but couldn't take advantage of those best chances. The Mid fielder were making lots of good passes and creating lots of chances for the strikers and wingers, but somehow they failed. The ball position was 70% by 30% Meet Pool.

The BMT had the best of the Best players and all the players had given their best and it was a best team work and looking at the game plan and game statics the game was dominated by BMT.

The winger D.S. Gurung, Sonam Tobgay, Substitute Bikash Gurung, Dawa Tshering were really fit and they had lots of contribution in this game. Striker, Namgay Dorji, Kencho Tobgay, Phunetsho Wangdue, Bro had their best chances but couldn't consist a goal as luck were not favoring them. The Mid fielder, Jigme N. Norbu, Tashi Phuntsho and Substitute Tashi had were best in making the game and holding the ball and creating lots of chances. The defenders Phuntsho Wangdi, Ruto, Younten, and Thinley Dorji were good in taking and clearing all the ball giving no chance to Meet Pool players to attack. The Lam Chencho, Goalie had a very good and he had saved all 4 difficult and sure goal balls. So the bottom line is that BMT were best and as we say "May the Best Team Win" so the BMT are the best.

Both the teams were good and played well till the 65 Minutes and after that all the players were tired, but even though the Meet Pool had given their best, but they fail to score. The BMT had many chances, but due to the poor finishing they failed to score more goal.

The super 16 (Knock-Out Round) will start from 27th November. The opening match will be played between BMT and Bhutan Telecom.

The Captain of BMT, Namgay Dorji say that he is confident with his players that they will reach till the finals.