Biratnagar, June 30, 2009 The government is yet to wake up to the reality of swine flu if one goes by the mechanism in place at three porous border points to prevent the pandemic from entering Nepal. Health desks have been put in place only on two border points — Rupediya and Jogbani. There is no sign of health desks in Raxaul, Kakarbhitta and Belahiya. According to the chief of District Public Health Office, Morang, Dinesh Chapagain, two health workers were deployed at Jogbani on Friday and health checks of passengers has already begun there. Health assistant Labarenj Shah said they tested more than 100 passengers for swine flu between Friday and Monday but nobody tested positive. If any of those entering Nepal from Indian towns is suspected of swine flu, s/he will be taken to the isolation ward of Koshi Zonal Hospital. “If required, specialists will be called from disease control department for further tests,” Chapagain added. Thousands cross to Nepal via Jogbani daily. A check post will be set up at Kakarbhitta in Jhapa on July 16 for putting preventive measures in place. Meanwhile, Jhapa District Public Health Office has already directed 50 health organisations to be on alert. However, no mechanism is in lace at Raxaul to check the spread of the flu. The public health office, too, seems ignorant about it. Chief of Swine Flu Disease Control Programme of Public Health Office at Parsa, Prem Chanda Jayasabal, said no concrete steps have been taken in this regard on the border points of the district. There is no sign of surveillance on Rupandehi’s border point — Belahiya. PM’s seal on high-level peace mechanism Kathmandu, June 30, 2009 Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today endorsed a proposal to set up a high-level political steering committee and strengthen pro-peace lobbies in all political parties. Responding to longtime facilitator and former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana’s proposal during an event to celebrate parliamentary practice in Nepal, the Prime Minister said he would do all he could to support the idea. Dhungana has proposed a steering mechanism comprising leaders of the major political parties as well as former prime ministers to lead the peace process. A senior politician would be appointed the chairman of the mechanism, while the Prime Minister would act as the secretary. Even as political crisis looms, political leaders are brainstorming to find a way out of the crisis. Political parties, one after another, have been disrupting regular House business since March 26, said CA Chairman Subash Nembang. “The President should present the government’s policy and program at least 15 days prior to budget presentation,” Chairman Nembang said. “Then at least an advance expenditure bill should be approved by the end of this month.” The current fiscal ends on July 15.