UK FRIENDS OF BHAKTAPUR CANCER HOSPITAL
(UKFOBCH)

SMRITI BHAVAN PROJECT

REPORT ON MY VISIT TO NEPAL DURING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2005

I am pleased to inform you that I had a very successful visit to Kathmandu regarding the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital Smriti Bhawan Project.

The Hospital is growing very rapidly since its establishment in 1999 and the demand for treatment for cancer is ever increasing with the number of new patients attending the Hospital rising above five thousand per year in contrast to four hundred in 1999. This certainly justifies our Smriti Bhawan Project in order to meet with the building infrastructure needs.

I attended the first meeting of BCH - SBC on 13 November and I was pleased that the total number of pledges received including UKFOBCH had reached above sixty. The Committee has opened an account with Nepal Development Credit Bank in order to receive the pledged funds. A draft brochure was presented and the Nanglo Private Ltd and Development Credit Bank have offered to print them free with their courtesies. The brochure was designed voluntarily by professional artist Rotarian Mani Joshi and it looks very impressive. One of the members Rotarian Sudhir Khatri informed that a Rotarian architect Mr. Sworup Gurung has volunteered to plan the drawings and also to use his offices free of charges for the building constructions. The most important event is that Mr Gopal Kakshapati, Chairman of BCH-SBC and I on behalf of UKFOBCH, signed the Bilateral Agreement for the implementation of the Project which was drafted and approved at our AGM in July last year.

On 20th November we held a joint Press Conference at Radisson Hotel to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital Project and I was pleased that our Technical Advisor, David Hurman, Head of the Department of Oncology at the Aberdeen University was also present, as he had come over to work voluntarily at BCH for two weeks. We took the opportunity to promote the Smriti Bhavan on this occasion and it got a very wide publicity through the media and TV.

On 22nd November we had a joint meeting at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital when architect Sworup had the opportunity to survey the lands available for the new building. Following that Gopal held a meeting at Nanglo on 29th November when he invited architect Sworup, Medical Director of BCH Dr Arati Shah and Technical Advisor David. Sworup also brought along one of the architects from his firm who would be largely involved in the planning of the building. After very useful interactions between them they decided that the Smriti Bhawan would contain Reception, Waiting Room, three Consulting Rooms, X-ray Room, Pharmacy and the Laboratory in the ground floor and Rooms for Mammography, Endoscopies and Ultrasound and The Hall of Memory on the first floor. Sworup would design appropriate features of solemn dignity and reverence in the Hall of Memory to pray for our beloved departed ones. The total floor space is estimated at 60,000 square feet including two floors.

We last met on 4th December and the meeting was attended by all eleven members of BCH-SBV, two out of three trustees and I. Chairman Gopal and I were both very happy with the rapid progress made during one month and I once again emphasised on intensive promotions within the Rotary Clubs and various other Social and Business Organisations for support. Gopal is very optimistic that the foundation would be laid before the next monsoon and he is going to give his heart and soul towards this Project strongly supported by his team members. He is organising about three meetings with few individuals every week for specific purposes. Gopal has given me fifty Brochures for distributions in UK, EU and US; and I am enclosing one for your attention. Perhaps you could promote to one of your friends with this brochure.

Lastly I am pleased to inform you that I have received £10,608 from 17 donors and I have submitted a claim for £2992 from Inland Revenue under the Gift Aid. The total balance at CAF Bank today stands at £10,651.56 including gross interest earned at the rate of 3.93 percent.

Bibek Pradhan

5 December 2005

Telephone or Fax: 01623 490789
Email: b.pradhanntlworld.com

5 High Leys Drive, Ravenshead,
Nottingham, NG15 9HQ
Telephone: 01623 490789.

For more information, see Memorial Building (Smriti Bhavan) or contact ANMF.

Postscript added 13 January 2006

We have raised more than a third of the target and also having signed the Bilateral Agreement for implementation we are now in Stage Two so that people may donate the money or make a pledge and set the date for donation.

Bibek Pradhan

1/16/06 - Donation amount fixed at $1,450 for U.S. currency.