ISLAMABAD, 31 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Pakistan's National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has launched a national campaign to treat acute diarrhoea with Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). Diarrhoea causes up to 30 percent of all deaths in children aged five and under across the country, mostly in remote rural areas.Full report

KAPILBASTU, 29 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Dinanath, a Nepalese farmer, was struck by tragedy when he lost his wife following the birth of their child a few months ago.Full report

ISLAMABAD, 24 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - An aggressive nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the killer disease tuberculosis (TB) is vital to boost access to free treatment at public health centres to cure the condition, health professionals said on World TB day.Full report

ISLAMABAD, 23 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - If natural low water supply, high population growth and inappropriate management are not rapidly addressed, Pakistan could become a water-deficient country in the next five years, water experts said at a gathering in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Tuesday.Full report

KARACHI, 23 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - The Karachi-based Edhi Foundation ambulance service, already the largest private ambulance service in the world, looks set to expand further in Pakistan with the purchase of another 150 vehicles this year.Full report

BARDIYA, 21 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - In July 2000 Nepal's government made a historic move to outlaw the 'Kamiaya' bonded labour system, which was akin to slavery. Kaliram Tharu breathed a sigh of relief that his family of Kamaiyas had been finally freed from bondage to his landlord and debilitating debts. The law has been in operation for five years but the situation hasn’t improved and many still suffer.Full report

ISLAMABAD, 17 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Despite a high rate of population growth, reproductive health (RH) and family planning services continue to be in demand in both urban and rural communities in Pakistan, health activists told IRIN on Wednesday. Full report

KATHMANDU, 16 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Since King Gyanendra took direct control of the country on 1 February, Nepal has seen a series of high-level visits from international humanitarian and human rights bodies, who are concerned about the impact the current state of emergency is having on the population. The Delegate General for Asia and Pacific at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Reto Meister, was recently in the capital Kathmandu. During his short visit, he was able to meet King Gyanendra and other senior state officials. Just before his departure, Meister spoke to IRIN.Full report

ANKARA, 16 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan has launched two separate reports on the plight of those living around the former nuclear testing site of Semipalatinsk, 500 km east of the capital, Astana.Full report

ISLAMABAD, 15 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Concerns are growing over deteriorating health conditions in northern parts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) after two months of torrential rains and record snowfall in the isolated region. Full report

NEPAL: Focus on maternal mortality

NEPAL: Focus on former bonded labourers

NEPAL: Interview with ICRC Delegate General

PAKISTAN: Focus on relief aid to northern Balochistan

NEPAL: Focus on the impact of the conflict on rural health