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Cobalt 60 Equipment for upgrading Radiotherapy Department Project at
Nepal Cancer Relief Society
Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital
(In collaboration with Nepal Government, Rotary International District 3292 and Local Community)
Rotary Club of Bagmati Kathmandu, RI District 3292, Nepal
The Rotary Foundation through Mansfield Rotary UK and sponsor by five Nepalese Rotary Clubs donated Cobalt Machine in1998 under RI 3H Grant to Nepal Cancer Relief Society Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital. It has worked effectively for 10 years. However, the hospital has refurnished with new source 6 years ago. Therefore, the source will be expiring in next year. Hence, this service will not be available to cancer patients and the signature project of Rotary International will be closed.
So, we agreed and determined to provide the continuous support to Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital from Rotary International District 3292 by providing Radiotherapy Cobalt 60 Machine through Global Grant or Term Gift through Rotary Club of Bagmati Kathmandu.
Cobalt-60 Therapy is the medical use of gamma rays from the radioisotope cobalt-60 to treat conditions like cancer. The Cobalt-60 from theratronics was widely used in external beam radiotherapy machines which produced a beam of gamma rays which was directed into the patient's body to kill tumor tissue. The relevance of using Cobalt-60 especially in developing countries, because of it is considerably lower capital and installation cost, Lower servicing and maintenance cost, Lesser dependence on reliable electrical power, Simplicity of design and Ease of operation.
Estimated Project Cost:
Radiotherapy Cobalt 60 Machine Estimated Cost : US $ 626,670
Contribution to the Project from Rotary Club of Bagmati Katmandu : US$ 100,000
Therefore, total amount of fund required : US$ 526,670
Contribution from the Rotary Club of Bagmati Kathmandu to Nepal Cancer Relief Society since last 10 years
(1.) Tobacco Quit Line (Free Counseling Telephone Service from10 years)
(2.) Tumor Board Meetings every month
(3.) Cancer awareness every month
(4.) Health Camp Pap smear taste (10,000 every year)
(5.) Tobacco awareness
(6.) Cancer Registry APPS 2015
(7.) Equipment support
(8.) Training opportunities
(9.) Building Construction support
Management of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital and Organizational Background
The Management Committee is represented by the representatives from Nepal Cancer Relief Society, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Rotary International District 3292, Ministry of Health and Local Community of Bhaktapur along with high profile experts and professionals as advisors.
Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) is a nationwide, community-based, non-profit organization established in 1982 A.D with a major goal to fight against the spread of cancer in Nepal. It has expanded its work in 42 districts of the country, mobilizing over 15,000 volunteers nationwide. NCRS has been working in both preventive and curative sectors of Cancer Control since its inception, especially as a strong tobacco control stake holder, so as to reach its ultimate goal of making Nepal a tobacco-free nation by 2020.
One of the big projects in the curative aspect of Cancer Control is NCRS Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH), which was established 20 years ago to provide Cancer Cure and Treatment at nominal rates. Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH) is 103-bedded cancer-specific hospital providing various cancer treatment procedures - chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, palliative care and pain management services. Around 14,000 new cancer patients are treated at BCH every year, which are referred to from various parts of the country. BCH is run by NCRS in collaboration with Nepal Government, Rotary International District 3292 and the local community. Majority of Members in the Management Committee of NCRS are Rotarians.
Beside the curative aspect, for the last three decades, the Society has dedicated itself in service of the Nepalese community, launching tobacco control activities, cancer awareness and educational programs, cancer screening and cancer care activities with a dream to develop into a cancer-free nation.
Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH):
Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital is the only cancer hospital in and around Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal and is a non profit, non government and community oriented hospital established in 1996 as a co-operative and collaborative project of Nepal Cancer Relief Society, Government of Nepal, Rotary International District 3290, Nepal Chapter and several individuals from the community as well as foreign residents and visitors who have contributed the project through donation of land, money and service. Currently, it has 109 beds with 210 staff (Technical, Ancillary and Administrative). BCH is Autonomous, Non-profitable, Charitable which generates charity to needy people from different parts of the country.
In March 1996, Rotary International District 3290, Nepal Chapter approved the first 3H grant project for Nepal (one of 11 approved projects out of 138 applicants) wroth $370,000 to provide radiotherapy Cobalt 60 Tele Therapy Machine to Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital on the request of Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS), Government of Nepal contributed Rs 5.5 million and NCRS raised Rs 2.5 million to construct a new building with a bunker for the radiotherapy machine. The new department was inaugurated on October 8, 1999 by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Later, a Rotary Walkathon, organized in 2004 raised Rs 3 million for the hospital to provide free treatment to 200 destitute cancer patients every year.
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