What is unique about Nepal is that blood type frequencies vary very much based on different groups of people. The Jirels for example only have 0.14% rh negatives amongst them, but there is one group that is a lot higher in rh negative frequencies:
The Newar people are high in y-DNA R1b and likely quite high in rh negative blood being a big part of why the overall percentage of rh negatives seems to be a lot higher than that of the Jirels.
In one university out of 1,310 students, 0.8% of them were found to be Rh (-) ve but out of 120 medical students in another university, 3.33% were rh negative.
There is one organization called Nepal Rare Blood Community helping ensure rh negative individuals are able to connect when in need.
The latest statistics of the country say 97% people in Nepal belong to positive blood group and only 3% belong to negative blood group. To go back to earlier statistics it is only 0.6% people who belonged to negative blood group. As per the country’s policy, generally negative blood is not accepted in replacement or in the blood donation program, if the donor is already screened RH-negative blood because of the chances of expire in the blood bank. That’s why this blood is not easily available in time.
Nepal is located in the Himalayas and is home to eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth.
The overwhelming majority of the Nepalese population follows Hinduism. Shiva is regarded as the guardian deity of the country. Nepal is home to the famous Lord Shiva temple, the Pashupatinath Temple, where Hindus from all over the world come for pilgrimage. According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Sita of the epic Ramayana, was born in the Mithila Kingdom of King Janaka Raja.
The Pashupatinath Temple is located in Kathmandu, home to the Newar people. What makes the Newar people unique amongst other things is the high frequency of the R-M269 genetic marker (10.6%) which is biggest in the world amongst the Welsh, Basques, Irish and Catalan.
According to ABO and Rh blood groups and their ethnic distribution in a teaching hospital of Kathmandu, Nepal, blood group A is common amongst the Newar, Rai, Magar, Limbu and Sanyasi ethnicitites, unlike B being common amongst the Tharu and Marwari ethnicities.
Blood group O was common in Brahmin, Chhetri, Tamang, Lama, Gurung, Sherpa, Terai Brahmin, Muslim and Yadav ethnicities.
This study was for the region, not just the Newar people and a total of 13568 blood samples were analyzed, 5123 (37.75%) were male and 8445 (62.25%) were female. Frequencies of blood groups A, B, AB and O were found to be 4034 (29.7%), 3665 (27.0%), 1114 (8.2%) and 4755 (35.1%). Frequencies of Rh positive and Rh negative blood groups were found to be 13200 (97.3%) and 368 (2.7%).
The earliest known history of Newar and the Kathmandu Valley blends with mythology recorded in historical chronicles. One such text, which recounts the creation of the valley, is the Swayambhu Purana. According to this Buddhist scripture, the Kathmandu Valley was a giant lake until the Bodhisattva Manjusri, with the aid of a holy sword, cut a gap in the surrounding hills and let the water out. This apocryphal legend is supported by geological evidence of an ancient lakebed, and it provides an explanation for the high fertility of the Kathmandu Valley soil.
Everest base camp trek, Nepal.
A photo posted by Peak Explorations/Brown Gal (@bgtpeakexplorations) on
Nepal is the heart of trekking. You come for the mountains and return to Nepal because of its people. Annapurna Circuit is one of its major highlights in the Himalayas as it provides the trekker a diverse experience in terms of landscapes from the humid jungle lowlands to the snowy pass of Thorung-La at 5416 meters. The ascent is done slowly to ensure a successful non-technical trek up the pass with a guide who is knowledgeable regarding the terrain and the weather in the region. Along the way, you immerse yourself in the local culture and get a taste first-hand of the local life in this part of the Himalayas. Annapurna is a part of the larger trail, the Great Himalaya Trail, and is popular for being a pioneer for teahouse trekking and continues to attract avid trekkers to this day.
Source: Peak Explorations LIFE HAPPENS ON THE MOVE
Are you now tempted to visit? If you do, join the rh negative group for Nepal on Facebook to make sure that if ever a situation comes where you need a blood donor, you know who to contact quickly.