A Retrospection of JICA's Contributions in Nepal
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JICA Nepal Office Japan International Quarterly Newsletter Cooperation Agency October to December 2012 | VOLUME 67 constructed under Japan’s especial Grant A retrospection of JICA’s Aid for Environment and Climate Change is the first and model project to demonstrate how renewable energy implementation contributions in Nepal scheme can add up electric power to the - Bidhya Pokhrel national grid. The project is first of its kind ReNewable eNeRgy in Nepal that procures and installs 680.4 ll sources of natural energy paced progress in promoting alternative KW grid connected Photovoltaic (PV) Ainexhaustible no matter to what and renewable energy is becoming visible generation system. amount they are used such as solar, wind now. and hydro power, and secondary energy Moreover, Technical Cooperation are collectively called renewable energy. Three Year Interim Plan (2010/11-2012/13) through several schemes reflects JICA’s Modern realization of alternative energy of the country focuses on the promotion contribution in the promotion of renewable started particularly from ‘Oil Shock’ of of alternative energy and expansion of and alternative energy. JICA’s Senior 1970s followed by the spirit of nationalism renewable energy under decentralized Volunteer’s contribution in technical for energy independence; rising concerns energy system. It sets forth conducive assistance in the Nepal Academy of on climate change and global warming environment for technology transfer Science and Technology (NAST) is equally to name a few. The Renewables Global for clean and renewable energy, and noteworthy. Kyoko Shuku in her capacity Status Report 2011 states that 16% of promotion of bioenergy as sustainable as JICA Senior Volunteer is providing global energy consumption comes from technology for rural areas. The Alternative technical inputs on the advancement renewable energy and new renewables Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), founded of solar power backup system of Solar (micro hydro, bio mass, bio fuel, solar, geo in 1996, is a major government agency that Laboratory in the NAST. Her technical thermal) accounts for 3% of final energy promotes development and deployment assistance mainly targets to connect consumption and is increasing rapidly. of renewable energies and alternative existing solar power backup system of energy technologies in Nepal. In line with NAST to the national grid. Topographically rich country like Nepal the government focus towards clean and has high prospect for utilizing natural renewable energy, Japan’s assistance has Continued on page 4 resources to expand renewable energy. also been contributing in the sector in However, despite ample natural energy different forms. resources, the opportunity to tap such a potential has not been adequately grabbed. JICA’s grant assistance and technical According to the Water and Energy cooperation to Nepal in this particular Commission Secretariat (WECS), Nepal’s sector is worth discussing. JICA’s especial InsIde n total energy consumption from small scale grant assistance for the recently completed Wrap Therapy Page 2 n renewable energy sources such as biogas, Project for Introduction of Clean Prospects of Japanese investment Page 3 n micro hydro and solar energy contributed Energy by Solar Electricity Generation Observation of volunteers’ activities Page 5 n about 0.7% to the national balance in 2008/09 System contributed to add milestone in Education Caravan Page 6 n altogether. Although the share is small, it government initiatives to promote clean JICA Press Tour Page 7 n has increased by 40 % since 2005. The snail- and renewable energy. The Solar Plant Journalists’ feedback Page 8 Through 3,240 photovoltic solar panels, the JICA-funded solar project at Sundarighat, Lalitpur, has been generating 680KW solar energy. Photo: Santosh Chhetri Wrap Therapy boon for treating bedsores - Santosh Chhetri rap Therapy—a new method Wof treating bedsores previously unfamiliar in Nepal—is becoming increasingly popular in Nepali hospitals courtesy of JICA volunteer Osamu Watanabe. This inexpensive and simple method used for the care of pressure ulcers is introduced in Nepal first by the Japanese volunteer starting from Model Hospital. Compared to basic wound-healing therapies, Wrap Therapy is a rational treatment method of burn and traumatic injuries as well as skin laceration as it helps heal sores faster ensuring a lubricated environment without applying stress on wounds. Under this method, bedsores are cleaned with saline water first then covered by food wrapping sheets, not like the treatment methods in which wounds are dried using gauzes and disinfectant that causes more pain and may sometimes result in full-blown infections. So far Wrap Therapy has already been Santosh Chhetri applied in six hospitals—Bir Hospital, Kirtipur Hospital, Sushma Koirala Memorial Burn Hospital, Spinal Injury Ikuko Niizeki & & Niizeki Ikuko Rehabilitation Centre, Capital Hospital and Model Hospital itself. More hospitals Photo: located in several parts of Nepal and health TRAILBLAZER: This inexpensive and simple treatment method used for the care of pressure practitioners are gearing up to introduce ulcers, introduced in Nepal by Osamu Watanabe, is gaining increasing popularity. this wound treatment method. Foundation Rehabilitation Center in the The plastic wrapping sheet, containing Watanabe has received a special mention US after graduating from Chiba Kashiwa a thin fibrin layer applied for bedsores of from doctors of Model Hospital, where he Rehabilitation College, Japan, in 2006. He all stages, protects wounds and ensures worked for two years before his assignment has engaged in physical therapy treatment speedy formation of epidermis. Watanabe came to an end in December 2012, for to scores of hospitalized patients and has is hopeful that this cheap treatment method bringing in this easy-healing therapeutic been organizing study sessions time to will be applied in many health institutions method to Nepal from Japan. A physical time. While he was in Nepal, he organized in a country like Nepal where the number therapist by profession, the JICA volunteer several workshops to inform nurses and of bedsore and burn injury patients is has a rich experience of working in Tsukuba health staff about Wrap Therapy and ways considerably high. If the figure made Central Hospital in Japan and Kaiser to use it, besides imparting training to available by Model Hospital is anything Model Hospital to become more patient to go by, Wrap Therapy will be the key friendly. treatment method to treat bedsores. In More hospitals located in the last one year, the hospital successfully several parts of Nepal and Doctors and nurses at Model Hospital, treated more than 2,000 patients through health practitioners are who earlier treated bedsore patients this method, says Amrita Tumbapo, a gearing up to introduce this mainly through the dressing method that physiotherapist at Model Hospital. wound treatment method can lead to rapid granulation development, have found that the application of Wrap (Mr Chhetri is Public Relations Consultant Therapy results in less wound cavity. of JICA Nepal) 2 Prospects of Japanese investment in Nepal - Ram Bhandari epal is promoting private investment, Nboth domestic and foreign direct investment for its economic growth. Enactment of Investment Act 2011, establishment of Investment Board, declaring Nepal Investment Year 2012- 13, working together with the private sector, enacting new industrial policy, the initiative to bring new industrial act to incorporate the provisions of new industrial policy, SEZ (special economic zone) initiatives, among others, are the latest initiatives. JICA, through its new Photo: Santosh Chhetri country assistance strategy, has introduced private sector development as one of the important program areas for helping JICA Nepal Senior Representative Satoshi Fujii presenting his paper on “Private Sector economic growth of Nepal apart from its Development” at the national seminar on “Importance of Japanese Investment for Economic Development of Nepal“ organized by JICA Alumni Association of Nepal. continued support to develop economic and institutional infrastructures such as roads, hydropower. At the same time, • Investment in hydropower, as the • Cheap labor, abundance of young JAAN (JICA Alumni Association of Nepali stakeholders are concerned population in the population Nepal) while celebrating its 39th annual with the origin of the investment; composition, beautiful Himalayas, function had organized a national seminar Japanese investment would not face water resources, etc. are the on “Importance of Japanese Investment that problem comparative advantages to Nepal for Economic Development of Nepal”. • Investment targeting the aging while considering investments. The seminar was participated by Nepali population of Japan by capitalizing the • Japanese believe more on “realizing” Government officials, private sector and beautiful landscape of Nepal and thus rather than “saying” and the trust academia and also from the Japanese side developing rest homes and resorts building needs understanding their mainly from the Embassy of Japan and • Japanese market is the highest margin sentiments and needs. Some examples JICA. Very intensive and soul searching producing, hence the Japanese of trials made in the past and failed to type of deliberations and discussions investors can invest in Nepal targeting continue could be the representative were the centerpiece of the function. to export in