Why is the coordination of science, spirituality, and human consciousness necessary in education?

 Why is the coordination of science, spirituality, and human consciousness necessary in education?

We have a rich Eastern knowledge tradition, but the ability to communicate with modern science is also developing.

Why is the coordination of science, spirituality, and human consciousness necessary in education?

It is essential to include the human and psychological aspects in health education, including palliative care and the experience of the last stages of life.

Nepal's education system is currently at a critical juncture of change. Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, neuroscience, mental health, and global social change have changed the situation. Education can no longer be just a means of passing exams, getting jobs, or teaching technical skills.

Today's generation needs not only knowledge, but also the ability to understand life, mental strength, moral decision-making ability, compassion, self-discipline, and the skill of remaining balanced in uncertain situations.

Many countries around the world have begun to recognize this need. Mindfulness, stress management, socio-emotional learning, palliative care, positive psychology, end-of-life care, and consciousness-related studies are gradually expanding in schools and universities. Modern science is also studying the relationship between the body, brain, emotions, and behavior in greater depth than ever before.

In such a situation, an important question arises—can Nepal develop an education system that establishes a balanced dialogue between its own knowledge tradition and modern science?

Nepal is not only a country of mountains and natural beauty; it is also an important center of Vedic, Upanishadic, Yogic, and Buddhist knowledge traditions. Thousands of years ago, sages and sages deeply pondered on the fundamental questions of human life, nature, consciousness, health, ethics, and the universe.

The ideas developed in the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Ayurveda, and other ancient texts about the body, mind, breath, self-discipline, meditation, compassion, life, and death have enriched the knowledge tradition. These texts are still studied today as important sources for understanding the development of philosophy, history, culture, and human thought.

Similarly, yoga is not just a method of physical exercise; it has traditionally been interpreted as a holistic way of life that disciplines the body, mind, and behavior. Practices such as pranayama, meditation, introspection, restraint, and compassion emphasize the inner development of the individual. Modern science has begun to study some aspects of these practices—especially meditation, mindfulness, and controlled breathing exercises—and the potential health effects of these practices. While positive evidence has been found in some areas, many questions are still the subject of research.

Therefore, the need today is not to accept ancient knowledge as superstition or to completely reject it in the name of modern science. What is needed is to conduct critical and evidence-based studies of these knowledge traditions in dialogue with history, philosophy, culture, and contemporary scientific research. It is necessary to creatively connect the wealth of knowledge developed by the sages and sages with modern research, neuroscience, psychology, medical science, and pedagogy. If this can be done, it will give a new direction to the national education system and create the possibility of establishing Nepal's unique identity in the global knowledge community.

This does not mean making religious/religious education mandatory in the curriculum. Nor does it mean presenting any religious or spiritual belief as scientific truth. Rather, it is about creating an environment where the various perspectives that human civilization has developed on life, health, consciousness, and death are studied based on evidence, history, philosophy, and critical thinking.

For example, thousands of scientific studies have been published on meditation and controlled breathing exercises in the last three decades. Some studies have shown that regular meditation practice can help reduce stress, anxiety, and emotional imbalance. There is also increasing evidence that controlled breathing exercises can have a positive effect on the autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability, and physical responses to stress. However, not all claims of all types of yoga or pranayama have been scientifically confirmed.

Therefore, where the evidence is strong, it should be taught based on evidence; where research is ongoing, it should be presented as a subject of open research.

Another important aspect is health education. Today, most students studying medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, physiotherapy, etc. receive education focused on the diagnosis, treatment and life-saving skills of disease. This is very necessary. But not every treatment is successful, and every human life ends in death one day. Therefore, future health workers need to understand death not only as a biological event, but also as a deeply human, psychological, social and cultural experience for the patient and his family.

In many universities around the world, subjects such as palliative care, grief management, sensitive communication with patients, end-of-life decisions and death studies are gradually being made an important part of health education. It is time for Nepal to think about including such subjects according to its own cultural context.

Similarly, the body is not only a biological structure that can get sick It is not enough to understand only the brain. Science has proven that thousands of biochemical reactions are taking place inside the body every moment. Chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, cortisol, melatonin affect our emotions, thinking, memory, sleep, immune system and behavior.

Nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, social relationships and lifestyle also affect these biochemical processes. This is why the concept of ‘holistic health’ is becoming important again in health science today.

Eastern yoga and meditation traditions have also emphasized breathing, self-discipline, diet, meditation and mental balance for thousands of years. The relationship between modern science and these traditions is not yet fully established, but the field of dialogue and research is expanding rapidly. Nepalese students should have the opportunity to study both sides from a critical, evidence-based and open perspective.

Another interesting topic is consciousness. Modern neuroscience is studying the brain processes related to consciousness, while philosophy, psychology, Vedanta, and Buddhist thought offer different explanations about the nature of consciousness. So far, a complete scientific explanation of consciousness is not available. For this reason, consciousness studies are developing as an interdisciplinary research field in prestigious universities around the world. Nepal can also explore the possibilities of research, dialogue, and educational development in this area.

Some may understand such a proposal as an attempt to expand religious education. But that is not the real purpose. The basis of the education system should always be the scientific method, critical thinking, evaluation of evidence, and intellectual freedom. No philosophical or spiritual concept should be studied as the ultimate truth, but as ideas developed by human civilization. Similarly, claims that are not confirmed by science should not be presented as scientific facts. This balance makes the education system credible.

Nepal has a rare opportunity. We have a rich Eastern knowledge tradition, but the ability to communicate with modern science is also developing. If these two can be connected on the basis of research, evidence, philosophy and critical thinking, Nepal can present a new educational model not only for its students, but also for the world.

The education of the future should not be just a means of producing good engineers, doctors, teachers or administrators. It should produce citizens who are scientifically minded, culturally aware, mentally strong, compassionate and able to maturely engage with the complex questions of life.

Education should teach technology, but also self-discipline. It should teach science, but also ethics. It should teach research, but also compassion. And along with preparation for life, it should also develop the ability to understand the final journey of life with dignity.

Where the ultimate goal of education is not just to produce successful professionals, but to produce holistically developed, responsible and humane citizens.

Has the role of the health system against gender-based violence been exhausted?

 Has the role of the health system against gender-based violence been exhausted?

One-stop crisis management centers are operating in 97 hospitals across the country to provide health care and legal assistance to victims of violence.

To make the campaign against gender-based violence effective, it needs to be permanently included in the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health and Population.

Any type of humiliating, painful or threatening behavior that occurs or may occur on the basis of gender is gender-based violence. The act of pressure, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of freedom also falls under gender-based violence.

Gender-based violence is deeply embedded in our society. It begins at the fetal stage. Abortion based on gender identity is the first stage of violence. Family and social discrimination during childhood and adolescence is the next stage.

After this, discrimination occurs at the reproductive age, sexual violence or discrimination is deprived of property and resources in old age.

A question that always arises in everyone's mind: Are only women victims of violence?

Answer: ‘No’.

Men and sexual and gender minorities are also victims, which is also confirmed by the data available in our regular health system. About 10 percent of those who seek services from one-stop crisis management centers due to gender-based violence are men. About 3-4 percent are sexual and gender minorities, while the rest are women. Even when analyzing this data, women are more likely to be affected.

Gender-based violence is an issue related to public health, human rights, and social justice. Domestic violence, sexual violence, child marriage, human trafficking, harmful traditional practices, and other forms of gender-based violence have long-term effects on women’s physical, mental, social, and sexual and reproductive health.

More than 60 percent of violence is perpetrated by acquaintances and acquaintances. Violence against women can occur in the public, private, and at any time in life.

There is a gender inequality gap in society. Different gender identities are also a major cause of discrimination. According to the Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2022, 23 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in Nepal have experienced physical violence.

The report states that 8 percent of women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. 27 percent have experienced physical, mental or sexual violence in their lifetime. 17 percent of women have experienced violence from their partners in the last 12 months. Of the women who have experienced sexual violence, 58 percent have neither told anyone about their pain nor sought any kind of help.

Similarly, the report shows that 14 percent do not seek help even if they tell someone, such as a friend or neighbor, about their pain. However, 28 percent of women seem to have sought help after violence. Since health institutions are the first contact and service center for victims of violence, the role of the health sector is not limited to treatment alone, but also includes psychosocial counseling, forensic evidence collection, safe referral, rehabilitation and multi-sectoral coordination, implemented by the Government of Nepal through the One-Stop Crisis Management Center (OCMC).

What is the One-Stop Crisis Management Center?

It is a multi-sectoral service system that provides free access to health care and other essential services to victims or affected persons through a single door. Through this, victims are provided with emergency health care, mental health and psychosocial counseling, forensic examination, legal aid, safe shelter, and effective referral services to the police, judicial bodies, and social rehabilitation services as needed.

The OCMC, which operates with the privacy, dignity, safety, and rights of the victim at the center, has been playing a significant role in making the health response to gender-based violence effective, accessible, and coordinated.

Is it necessary or not to provide the role of the health system against gender-based violence in the organizational structure of the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene?

Currently, 97 hospitals across the country have one-stop crisis management centers, which is a significant achievement. This achievement needs further strengthening of its leadership, coordination, monitoring, and program management in the federal structure. This issue does not seem to have found a place in the newly approved structure of the Ministry.

It is necessary to make policy arrangements to effectively implement the right to health, gender equality, the right to a life free from violence guaranteed by the constitution, and the commitments made by Nepal at the international level.

The main foundations of which are presented below:-

- The health sector is the first and most important service point for victims of gender-based violence, which cannot be done by other sectors.

- A permanent structure is necessary to make services including the One-Stop Crisis Management Center sustainable and institutionalized.

- There is a need for clear leadership and coordination of this issue and the One-Stop Crisis Management Center service between the federal, provincial, and local levels.

- It is necessary to coordinate the role of the policy level to provide integrated management of health services related to gender-based violence, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and forensic services, etc.

A health structure with clear responsibilities of the health sector is necessary for the implementation of national and international commitments, because since no single sector can cover the campaign against gender-based violence, it is called multi-sectoral.

Sarkar The response that the health sector has so far provided is only 28 percent of the access to the One-Stop Crisis Management Center, which is being provided by the health sector. This tells us that there is still work to be done.

To date, among the sectors that have presented some progress and achievements on behalf of Nepal in international forums on gender equality or gender-based violence, the One-Stop Crisis Management Center system and service is also a major achievement.

If this issue is not included in the structure of the health sector for a policy and coordinating role in the federal structure of such an important service, it will be a leadership crisis for this sector itself.

Health response to gender-based violence is an integral part of the health service system. Therefore, it is necessary to institutionalize it within the permanent organizational structure of the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene, not as a project or temporary program, with clear responsibilities, sufficient human resources, a sustainable budget, and an effective monitoring system.

Can you eat chicken after bird flu? 5 Q&A with an expert

 Can you eat chicken after bird flu? 5 Q&A with an expert

The occasional outbreak of bird flu in different parts of the country has increased concern and confusion among consumers. As soon as the news of an infection being confirmed in a farm is made public, the same question arises in the minds of many people, is it safe to eat chicken now?

The answers to these questions are as follows:

1. How does bird flu spread to humans? Who is at higher risk?

Bird flu can be transmitted to humans through the feces, saliva, feathers, or body fluids of infected birds. People who work on farms, slaughter chickens, handle dead birds, or clean infected cages are especially at risk. The virus can also enter the body by mixing with contaminated dust or air.

However, there is no disease that can be easily spread from person to person yet.

2. Can you eat bird flu-infected chicken?

If it is cooked well, the virus cannot survive, which does not pose a risk of infection. However, raw or undercooked meat remains a risk.

The virus is inactivated at temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius. Therefore, there is no need to worry if meat and eggs are cooked well. However, it is necessary to wash hands with soap and water after touching raw meat, separate raw and cooked food, and pay attention to hygiene in the kitchen.

However, according to international public health standards, it is considered risky to allow infected animals to enter the food chain. If infection is confirmed according to the standards, chicken meat is not suitable for consumption. Therefore, even if the virus is likely to be destroyed, it is not recommended to eat infected chicken meat.

According to international public health standards, it is considered risky to allow infected animals to enter the food chain. If infection is confirmed according to the standards, chicken meat is not suitable for consumption.

3. How to recognize chickens with bird flu? What do they look like?

Sudden death of many chickens, reduced feed intake, lethargy, reduced egg production, difficulty breathing, or swollen heads are the main signs of bird flu. If such symptoms are observed, the veterinary service office should be immediately reported. Hiding the infection can increase the risk.

4. How can chickens with bird flu reach the market?

Under normal circumstances, government agencies take control of chickens in areas where the infection has been confirmed and arrange for their destruction. In addition, surveillance is increased in such areas and sales and distribution are prohibited.

However, in some cases, due to lack of information, negligence, or attempts to reduce financial losses, there is a risk of hiding infected or suspicious chickens and selling them. For this reason, consumers should not buy meat from random sources.

It is wise to buy meat only from reliable, approved, and regularly monitored stores.

5. Should you stop eating all chicken meat after bird flu is detected?

Not necessarily. Just because bird flu has been detected does not mean that all chicken meat is unsafe. Chicken and its products produced from farms that have been certified by the relevant body as disease-free and safe can be consumed normally.

What precautions should consumers take?

When purchasing chicken, one should pay attention to its source. Chicken that is sick, has died unnaturally, or looks suspicious should not be used.

Special attention should be paid to hygiene while cutting, washing, and cooking meat. Utensils, knives, cutting boards, and hands that have come into contact with raw meat should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. Ensure that the meat is fully cooked. Such general precautions help prevent various foodborne infections.

However, chicken meat from confirmed, suspected, or controlled areas should not be used. Consumers should make decisions based on official information and advice from health authorities.

What signs does our body show when we are deficient in which vitamin?

 What signs does our body show when we are deficient in which vitamin?

Feeling tired and weak in the body can be a major sign of a deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin D, or folate.

Our body needs many vitamins to stay healthy. When we start experiencing a vitamin deficiency, our body starts showing some symptoms. People often consider these symptoms to be normal,. Many of the symptoms we see in our body are due to vitamin deficiency.

Having a general knowledge of what physical signs we see when we are deficient in which vitamin can help us to see a doctor easily.

Frequent fatigue and weakness

If you feel tired all the time, it could be a sign of a deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin D, or folate. A deficiency of these vitamins reduces energy levels.

Hair loss and weak nails

Excessive hair loss, brittle nails, thinning, and splitting can be signs of a deficiency of vitamin B7 and vitamin D. Sometimes, it can be related to iron deficiency.

Mouth sores and chapped lips

Frequent mouth sores or chapped lips can be a sign of a deficiency of vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate. You should consult a doctor even if you do not experience any pain.

Persistent dry skin

If your skin is constantly dry or this problem is increasing, it can be a sign of a deficiency of vitamin A, vitamin E, or vitamin C. You should pay attention to your diet.

Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums when brushing or wounds that do not heal quickly can indicate a deficiency of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen and heal wounds. It can also weaken bones.

What to eat to avoid vitamin deficiency?

Before eating anything, it is important to know what your body is deficient in. Then, you should manage your diet accordingly.

Driver dies while driving, what causes this?

 Driver dies while driving, what causes this?

Fat and cholesterol accumulate in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart for years, forming a 'plaque'. At some point, when that plaque ruptures, blood clots there and blocks the blood vessel.

Driver dies while driving, what causes this?

Bagmati Pradesh 03-001 Ja 1124 electric microbus was on its regular journey from Narayangadh to Birgunj. There were 14 passengers on board the microbus. For them, that day was like any other. Some were busy on their mobile phones. Some were looking out the window. Some were in a hurry to reach their destination. .

55-year-old Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki was steering the microbus. He himself will never be able to say whether his chest felt heavy, whether he had difficulty breathing, or whether his heart was beating uncontrollably.

But one thing was remembered by many present there, he did not let go of the steering wheel until the last moment.

The lives of the passengers in front were at stake. They prioritized the safety of the passengers over their own physical pain. Without creating any hurry or panic, they safely took the micro to its destination. They stopped the vehicle. Only then did his body leave him.

Although the passengers and locals took him to the hospital, the doctors declared him dead.

According to initial information, the cause of his death is said to be a heart attack. But due to the restraint he showed until the last moment, all 14 passengers in the micro remained safe.

The incident of a healthy person, looking healthy, walking, working person losing his life in a few minutes is not new. Such incidents do not only happen on the street, but also in the office, at home, in the gym, at weddings, at the playground, and sometimes even in his sleep.

The families of many people who die suddenly repeat almost the same sentence, ‘He left the house smiling in the morning. There was no major illness. He had eaten and gone to work.’

How does a person suddenly die of a heart attack?

Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki, who was declared dead, may have suffered a ‘silent heart attack,’ says cardiologist Dr. Ashok Shrestha. According to him, not all heart attacks are the same. In some cases, patients experience clear symptoms such as chest pain, sweating, or difficulty breathing. But in some patients, serious damage occurs inside the heart without any specific signs.

Such a condition is called a ‘silent heart attack’ in medical language.

In a ‘silent heart attack,’ the patient may only feel general fatigue, bloating, indigestion, or mild discomfort in the chest. That is why many ignore it, considering it a normal problem,’ says Dr. Shrestha.

According to him, fat and cholesterol accumulate in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart for years and form ‘plaques.’ At some point, when that plaque ruptures, blood clots there and the blood vessel closes. Then the heart muscle stops getting oxygen.

If this process occurs in a large area, the heart's pumping ability weakens. Then the electrical system that controls the heartbeat can break down. The heartbeat becomes very irregular or the heart itself can stop. This condition is called cardiac arrest.

'When the heart stops pumping blood, oxygen does not reach the brain. The patient becomes unconscious within a few seconds. Permanent brain damage begins within 4 to 6 minutes. Death can occur if immediate treatment is not received,' he says.

What is not visible from the outside is the biggest risk

According to Dr. Shrestha, the biggest challenge of a silent heart attack is that it does not allow the patient to become aware in time.

Some people go to the office regularly, drive, exercise and consider themselves completely healthy. But the disease may have been developing in their heart blood vessels for years.

Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, mental stress, irregular lifestyle and increasing age increase this risk further, he says.

‘If these risk factors are present in a single person, the plaque can rupture at any time. Then, within a few minutes, a person who is in a normal state can reach a life-threatening state,’ says Dr. Shrestha.

Sudden death is not only caused by a heart attack

According to experts, sudden death can also occur in serious conditions such as cardiac arrest, stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Many times, such problems develop inside the body for years, but there are no clear signs outside.

‘Sudden unconsciousness is not only a heart attack. In some cases, stroke can also be the cause,’ says neurologist Dr. Rajiv Jha.

According to him, a stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked or ruptures. If a vital part of the brain is affected, the patient can become unconscious within minutes.

Not all patients with a stroke die suddenly. But if there is a large hemorrhage, excessive swelling in the brain or the brainstem is affected, the situation can become very serious.

“Some patients show symptoms such as inability to speak, inability to move one arm or leg, facial drooping or loss of balance. But in a severe stroke, the patient may suddenly faint. Therefore, such a condition cannot be dismissed as normal weakness,” he says.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Dr. Jha says that subarachnoid hemorrhage in the brain is one of the main causes of sudden death in an otherwise healthy person. Hundreds.

Dr. Jha, who has successfully treated cases of aneurysm, says that it usually occurs when an aneurysm, a balloon-like bulge, ruptures in a blood vessel in the brain.

Most people may have had such an aneurysm from birth or for a long time, but they live a normal life without showing any symptoms. “As soon as the aneurysm ruptures, blood spreads into the subarachnoid space around the brain. This increases the pressure inside the brain within seconds and the patient may suddenly experience unbearable headaches, unconsciousness, or even instant death,” says Dr. Jha. According to him, many patients die on the way or at home due to not reaching a specialist hospital in time.

The first few minutes can save lives

Sudden cardiac arrest or a person becoming unconscious does not mean that the opportunity for treatment is over. On the contrary, according to doctors, the first few minutes are the most critical time between the patient’s life and death.

Cardiologist Dr. According to Madhav Bista, after a cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood. Then oxygen stops reaching the brain. If no treatment is started within four to six minutes, permanent brain damage can begin.

He says, “In such a situation, you should not just wait for an ambulance. If the patient is not breathing or does not appear to have a heartbeat, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started immediately. Timely CPR maintains some blood flow to the heart and brain, which significantly increases the patient’s chances of survival.”

How to give CPR?

1. Start CPR by checking if the patient is breathing.

2. Lay the patient on a hard and flat surface and place your hand on the center of the chest. Place the palm of one hand on top of the other and straighten the elbow.

3. Press the chest firmly and quickly. At a speed of 100-120 times per minute, allow the chest to fully return after each compression to a depth of about 5-6 centimeters.

4. If you are trained, give 2 chest compressions followed by 30 chest compressions. If you are not trained, continuous chest compressions are also effective.

5. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available nearby, use it immediately. Apply pads according to the device's instructions and deliver an electric shock if necessary.

6. Continue CPR until an ambulance arrives, the patient regains breathing or consciousness, or until a health worker takes over. Continuous CPR helps maintain blood flow to the brain and heart and increases the patient's chance of survival.