UK FRIENDS OF BHAKTAPUR CANCER HOSPITAL (UKFOBCH)

(UK Charity Commission Registration Number: 1107897)

 

Executive Committee & Board of Trustees	5 High Leys Drive, Ravenshead,  Nottingham, NG15 9HQ Telephone: 01623 490789.
Dr. Bibek Pradhan (Chairman)
Dr. Subarna Shrestha
Dr. Basanta Shrestha
	Email: b.pradhanntlworld.com

Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Smriti Bhawan Project
Interim Report October 2008

I have much pleasure in forwarding the latest interim report on Smriti Bhawan Project following my recent visit to Kathmandu last month.

Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital – It is growing very rapidly as the main cancer hospital inside the Kathmandu Valley. The main development this year is the addition of a latest and sophisticated Linear Accelerator (Linac) for treating cancer patients. The building for this is completed and the Linac has been installed. Now it is waiting for commissioning for the service to start. The Hospital has received various contributions from individuals, Governments and local and International Organisations in the way of new buildings, brachytherapy machine for direct treatment of cancers and many diagnostic equipments. Nepal’s membership with IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has been confirmed and the Hospital is likely to gain from direct help from IAEA for further development with equipments and training facilities.

Smriti Bhawan Project – Committee Chairman Gopal Kakshapati called a meeting on 23 September in my presence which was very well attended. Chairman Gopal explained various reasons for delay in construction which is overdue by one year. However he is determined now to go ahead with the building construction as number one priority supported very enthusiastically by all attending members. The meeting decided on the following time table.

1. Building Design – Chairman presented the conceptual drawings prepared by the architect and several small amendments were suggested. It is now up to the architect to prepare detailed drawings for contract and construction and the architect has promised to do that after the Laxmi Puza Holidays around early November.
    
2. Contract or Constructions - After lengthy discussions it was agreed to follow the practice adopted by Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital in constructing several buildings in the past like Guest House, Operation Theatre, New Inpatient Wards, Linac building etc. They hope to finalise the contract by middle of December and the Committee decided to lay the Foundation of Smriti Bhawan on 1st January 2009.
    
3. Funds or Smriti Bhawan – The target is NRs.20 million out of that the Project has received firm pledges of NRs.10 millions which is enough to start construction and to accomplish first phase of building the OPD and so on, on the ground floor.
    
4. Publicity and further fund raising – Chairman promised to indulge on a publicity blitz immediately after laying the foundation through various media and visiting organisations. The Committee is quite confident that they would raise the target to complete the building within eighteen months to two years.

Therefore I am very happy that Smriti Bhawan construction is going to start as planned above and I do sincerely hope that everything will go according to the schedules.

I am sure all the donors are eager to know the progress of the Project and I request Chairman Gopal to –

1. Forward a scanned copy of the final Building soon to be completed by the architect, to all the donors and others as addressed on this email.
    
2. Inform all the above once the Foundation has actually been laid.

Prepared by Bibek Pradhan on 26 October 2008