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Presidents Note - Dr. Deepak S.

Shrestha
Greetings to all,
Hearty congratulations to the media
department and all associated for
the successful publication of the rst
edition of the foundation newsleter.
In todays fast paced world, we believe
that this newsleter will prove to be
very much benecial for keeping us
connected and well informed of the
various updates happening in the
foundation and in the eld of Cancer.
It is with fond memories that I recall
the establishment of the foundation
and the very essence on which it was
established. Our close experience with
cancer made us realize how big and
diverse impact this simple one litle
word disease really has. How cancer
not only aects a body part of a person
but also rather brings about a big
turmoil in the whole family. How the
way society perceives cancer patient
and the family may be more hurtful
than actually undergoing a surgery or
taking chemotherapy.
We also realized that still myths exist
regarding cancer. Thus acknowledging
the dire need for a holistic and united
ght against cancer, Richa Bajimaya
Memorial Foundation came to existence
on 10th October 2007 to contribute our
part in this batle.
Since its inception, the foundation has
faced many challenges. But as said
challenges bring about opportunities
and at many times the best in you.
The journey has been a very testing
and learning experience. There have
been hard times, but the support and
well wishes extended by all has made
travelling together more eective and
joyful.
I would like to sincerely acknowledge
all our well wishers for their continuous
support and encouragement, which we
are condent will only grow with each
passing day.
I would also like to appeal to all to join
forces with us and unite for a movement
against cancer. No support is big or
small, every litle contribution maters.
As Edmund Burke quotes NOBODY
MADE A GREATER MISTAKE THAN
HE WHO DID NOTHING BECAUSE
HE COULD ONLY DO A LITTLE.
Let us all play our part and unite for a
movement against cancer.
Wishing you all a healthy and
prosperous life ahead.
United Against Cancer
hgr]tgfdf Elixir Club
A day with the pioneers
From the Heart
Smoking and Cancer
Foundation Timeline
Cancer Few preventive atitudes?
From a trainees pen
Pink is for Power
2
2
3
3
4,5
6
7
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25
th
March, 2012 | Issue 1
Inside this issue
Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation
The Tobacco Control and Regulatory
Act 2068 implemented from August
7th, 2011.
Act provides several provisions to
control the eects caused by tobacco
and introduces penalties for the
violations. Some of them are:
Prohibition of smoking in public
places.
Prohibition of sale of tobacco
products to minors and pregnant
women.
Prohibition of advertisement,
promotion and sponsorship related
to tobacco products.
Prohibition of sale of tobacco
products within 100 meters of
educational and health institutions.
Prohibition of sale of individual
cigaretes.
Inclusion of Pictorial Warnings
covering at least 75% of the packet
area.
Display of No Smoking sign at
public places.
2 I Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter
hgr]tgfdf Elixir Club - Jeewan Shrestha
=+=:-==+=+ -+=+ -+==, Elixir Club
- Interact Club + =+=-= +z
=-=+ -+ === -~- +=+=-+
===- ~= =a +=+== == ===
-=- +=-:-= =+- -- -a=++
+- +- ==- = =a -a=+ +=-
OPS Elixir Club + =+ ++- -==
=-=-- ==+ -~- -= - =-+-
On Mangsir 14th 2068, a group of 12
students from the Elixir club of V. S.
Niketan School, headed out of their
school gate. Not to return to their homes
or for a eld trip but to nd out about
the very promising new act passed
on Shrawan 22nd 2068, The Tobacco
Control and Regulation Act 2011.
These students had been provided
with the pamphlets of the new act
and briefed about this act by the Richa
Bajimaya Memorial Foundation. And
this writer got a chance to accompany
this motivated group along their
excursions for the next two hours.
On Mangsir 7th, in the Elixir club
Meeting of V. S. Niketan School, this
plan was conceived by the students
themselves with the guidance of their
inspirational Elixir Supervisor. The idea
was to go to all the shops, tea shops and
A day with the Pioneers - Dr. Poojan Shrestha
stores around their school. There the
students would ask questions regarding
the knowledge of the recently passed
act, educate them about the same,
explain the negative eects of tobacco,
and make them aware of cancer and its
prevention. They were able to carry out
this Survey and Awareness campaign
in 29 dierent shops in the Tinkune
area surrounding V.S. Niketan School.
The verve and the condence shown
by this group while educating and
presenting would surprise and make
proud anyone witnessing them. In a
group of three, they asked questions,
told the facts and did not hesitate to
repeat when the shopkeepers did not
understand. There were a few unlucky
citizens who were lighting cigaretes at
these places. They too were respectfully
interrogated and then enlightened by
this enthusiastic group about the act
and the harm caused by tobacco. They
dared not to light the cigarete in the
presence of these children, and some
even ed the scene.
And in the end, all the children had one
thing to say. Can we do this tomorrow
as well? I am sure that anyone who
met these kids will not forget about the
message they carried with them.
The Tobacco Control and Regulation
Act was passed on Shrawan 22nd 2068
and received with much enthusiasm
and anticipation by the general
public and the various concerned
organizations. A very promising
step with comprehensive guidelines
enclosed, if acted upon stringently
by the government and accepted by
the general public could be the key
to making our society tobacco free.
But the failure of the government to
properly enact this framework even
afer numerous calls by the various
organizations and public bodies is a
pity. In the light of this failure, a group
of young children going out and making
aware their society of this new act and
motivating their friends, elders to think
about the law and its implications is a
big step, an example, a wake up call
for the incumbents holding responsible
positions. If this campaign is followed
upon by other schools and the youth
encouraged, this could be a very
successful strategy to start a movement
for tobacco control from the grassroots.
Together it is possible
=+-- + =-=-==~ :- +=
~= =a === =-=-- =- -=- =-=
r= =+= -+ ==+ == =-~-
-+ +:= =a -a=++ |+ =, ===
+=+-= ==, ++=, === -- ==
:|+ =, -+=- =+-= -= ==
- +|+ ===-= -| +-a =
-~|+- + =-= == =a =--==+
+=+== ===-= =-=--== ==+-
-~- =-+- ~- -== = OPS Elixir
Club + Elixir Supervisor == +-+
==+ =-= =a +=+=+ -+= ==+
+= - =-= +=+- +== =+ c- -
----+ +~-+- ~- +- === +=-
=+ =-=+- =- =+-c
Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter I 3
Life is an expectation of accidental
events. We dont know what will happen
the next second. Life is a gif of god so it
must that we utilize it properly. Life of a
person is not always happy. Many times,
a person has to face problems which
bring sadness and sorrow to his life and
one of the major problem resulting is in
his own health condition.
People suer from a lot of diseases in
their lifetime. A major problem seen in
todays youth is smoking. Smoking is
injurious to health, but this statement is
misunderstood or neglected by majority
of people. Smoking has no positive eect.
It brings misery in ones life. It degrades
our civilization. In our country there
is a huge proportion of adolescent and
youths who consume cigaretes. They
have no seriousness. They dont know
the value of life.
People smoke mainly for fun and also
due to their imitating habits. They copy
bad habits from their companions, family
and relatives. But there are some people
who smoke due to their adversaries.
They feel the burden of life is reduced
and lighter by smoking. It gives them a
timely relaxation but engulfs their life.
Similarly, there are some other groups of
people who smoke without knowing the
reason for it. It is mainly done by those
who lack proper guidance, supervision
or those who are fed up from life and
want to end it.
As we all know that smoking does
no good to ones health. It is indeed
very harmful. It consists of those toxic
substances that can take ones life. People
dont understand the value of their own
life. They lose it. And combining the
drops of water, a large ocean is formed
and in the same way with life of a single
person a whole country is formed.
And the death of countrymen makes
the whole country cry. Furthermore,
smoking invites a lot of deadly diseases.
It kills people slowly and gradually.
Now lets talk about cancer. Cancer is
a disease which is a result of smoking.
Cancer is a very deadly disease. It is ofen
a cause of premature death in many
people. The intoxicants consumed by
them is piled up or gathered together and
causes cancer.
We have already described that the
main cause of cancer is smoking. Death
is its ultimate result. It is very much
dangerous. So, the answer to this maybe
to bring awareness among people about
smoking and cancer. There must be public
awareness and participation. Similarly
government should also take steps to
control the problem. The consciousness
of an individual is also very important.
It will save life of lot of people and stop
them from doing nuisance things.people
will know the importance of life. So,
many organizations are also formed
for this motive. Those organization are
service motive and self dependant. There
are many institutions which help to leave
this habit.
If people join their hands together and go
for it, nothing is impossible. Our country
maybe the country free from social evils
and diseases one day. It may be the
leading example of civilization. By this
our earth will be a happy, peaceful and
prosperous place to live with its people
civilized and healthy.
Smoking and Cancer Sandisha Shrestha 9 E
Winning Essay Organized by Elixir Club, V. S. Niketan School
From the Heart - Sushma Maharjan Lilly and Mike E. Lilly
Being named to the position of
Pink Ribbon Advocate for the Richa
Memorial Foundation a year ago has
changed my life signicantly as did
my own life change forever when I
was diagnosed with breast cancer and
the ensuing months of treatment and
geting back to a vibrant life.
Since that time, with the loving
support of my husband, Mike, and
the incredible team at Richa Memorial
Foundation we have touched and
inspired many women and girls to take
charge of their lives and get checkups.
So many are reluctant to talk about or
this particular form of cancer because
of the stigma and shyness atached to
that part of the body.
But I believe we are opening doors of
awareness with aggressive campaigning
and programs such as the secondary
school elixir clubs. There is a frankness
and a desire to understand and a desire
to help their own mothers and female
relatives know correct information afer
hearing our talks. I speak from the heart
of my own struggle and it is di cult
to do at times, but it must be done. My
husband and I also are involved in
helping children at Kanti Hospital to
have a beter chance of surviving and
to have a beter quality of life for them
and their family. Childhood cancer is
curable, but cleanliness of the hospital,
nutrition of their food, and clean water is
so important. We are so appreciative of
the wonderful team at Richa Memorial
Foundation for helping us with these
programs. United against cancer is what
we are.
4 I Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter
Established Year
- O cially registered as
an NGO in the year 2007
with a vision of Uniting
for a movement against
cancer
Its establishment is a
tribute to Late Ms. Richa
Bajimaya born on 28th
October 1984, who lef
us all with a heavy heart
on 25th March 2007,
ghting till the very end
with cancer
Together we can
- Blood Donation Program
Jointly organized with
Rotaract club of Kathmandu
Fund raiser activities from
Deusi Bhailo Program
and Musical Event for
Togetherness with Kutumba
a folk instrumental Nepali
Band
Formation of First Elixir
Club, a network of school
based club with a vision of
Youth for cancer awareness
and prevention in Ideal
Model School.
Forming
- Sensitization Pr
collaboration with
Celebrated Year
Youth organization
Painting , Photo E
Informative Stalls
event
Participated in
medical team.
Participated as a m
Free Campaign of
of right to food is
Awareness and Interaction
Expansion of Elixir networks
Cancer Awareness and Interaction
programs in Elixir and other schools
Fun Filled Healthy Winter Camp for
children with on objective to impart
healthy lifestyle from their childhood.
Health and Dental Checkup Camp for
the Children.
Dierent Inter school and Intra school
competitions with a theme of cancer
awareness and prevention
Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter I 5
a Collaboration
ogram on Breast Cancer in
Nepal Cancer Support Group
of Youth with 24 dierent
n. Cancer Awareness Canvas
xhibition and Interactive and
were few highlights of the
Global Peace Festival as a
medical team in the Hunger-
Activista Nepal with a theme
right to live
Cancer Can be Prevented Too
World Cancer Day celebrated with a theme of Cancer can be
prevented too through dierent events - Ask the doctor, Elixir
activities display, Drama, Signature Campaign, Installation Art, Art
Display, Standing Museum, Flyer Distribution and Candle Lighting
Students Meet 2011 - Tobacco and Cancer The Event of Group
Debate, Art competition, Essay writing, Speech were conducted
with the participation from eight schools
FCTC Awareness Campaign of Tobacco Control and Regulatory Act
2011 in collaboration with six dierent organizations by Placards
display, yers distribution, Installation Art and Rally in three
historical cities Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar square.
Cancer Awareness & Interaction Program in Thames International
College, SOS, VS Niketan, Cambridge Public High School, Leo Club
Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Program -VS Niketan
School, Ideal Model School, Occidental Public School, Women
Federation for Global Peace
Highlights
- Successful establishment
of eight active elixir units in
Kathmandu, Lalitpur and
Bhaktapur.
- Conducted awareness
and interaction programs
reaching more than 5000
children and youth.
- Supported eight
cancer families nd their
WAY AHEAD, morally
supporting them in their
batle against Cancer.
- United Against
Cancer Collaborated with
various individuals and
organizations on various
occasions.
6 I Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter
Cancer is a generic term for a large
group of diseases that can aect any
part of the body. Other terms used are
malignant tumors and neoplasms. One
dening feature of cancer is the rapid
creation of abnormal cells that grow
beyond their usual boundaries, and
which can then invade adjoining parts
of the body and spread to other organs.
This process is referred to as metastasis.
Metastases are the major cause of death
from cancer.
Cancer is to a large extent avoidable.
Many cancers can be prevented.
Others can be detected early in their
development, treated and cured. Even
with late stage cancer, the pain can be
reduced, the progression of the cancer
slowed, and patients and their families
helped to cope. Cancer is a leading cause
of death globally. The World Health
Organization estimates that 7.6 million
people died of cancer in 2005 and 84
million people will die in the next 10
years if action is not taken. More than
70% of all cancer deaths occur in low-
and middle-income countries, where
resources available for prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of cancer are
limited or nonexistent.
But because of the wealth of available
knowledge, all countries can, at some
useful level, implement the four
basic components of cancer control
prevention, early detection, diagnosis
and treatment, and palliative care and
thus avoid and cure many cancers, as
well as palliating the suering.
Cancer prevention is an essential
component of the ght against cancer.
Unfortunately, many prevention
measures that are both cost-eective
and inexpensive have yet to be widely
implemented in many countries.
Cancer prevention must be considered
in the context of activities to prevent
other chronic diseases, especially those
with which cancer shares common
risk factors, such as cardiovascular
diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory
diseases and alcohol dependence.
The following sections outline current
knowledge about few eective
interventions in reducing exposure to
Cancer Few preventive attitudes? - Dr. Prashant Khatiwada
the various cancer risk factors. These
are World Health Organization (WHO)
recommended approaches.
Reducing Tobacco Use
We must follow a mix interventions aimed
at reducing tobacco use, protecting non-
smokers from tobacco smoke exposure
and regulating tobacco products. For
this Nepal government has signed WHO
Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control, which is an international,
legally-binding treaty. The most cost
eective population wide policies in it
include
Tobacco price increases achieved
through raising taxes;
Creating 100% smoke-free
environments in all public spaces
and workplaces;
Banning direct and indirect tobacco
advertising;
Large, clear, explicit health warnings
on tobacco packaging.
Promoting a healthy diet
A healthy diet is characterized by:
Limiting energy intake from total fat
and shifing fat consumption away
from saturated fats to unsaturated
fats and towards the elimination of
trans-faty acids;
Increasing consumption of fruits,
vegetables, legumes, whole grains
and nuts;
Limiting intake of free sugars;
Limiting salt (sodium) consumption
from all sources and ensuring that
salt is iodized.
Eective ways to promote a healthy
diet at population and individual levels
include:
Health incentives to buy fruit and
vegetables
Clear nutritional labels on food
products;
Providing healthy meals in schools,
workplaces and other institutions;
Access to personalized nutritional
advice as part of health-care services.
Increasing regular physical activity
To increase physical activity levels in a
population, it is necessary to adopt an
integrated approach involving not only
the health sector, but also the sport and
recreation, education, transport and
urban planning sectors. Interventions
promoting moderate intensity activity,
particularly walking, which are not
facility dependent, are advisable.
Reducing overweight and obesity
WHO recommends that people
maintain a healthy weight throughout
their lives. The body mass index (BMI)
commonly used to dene healthy
weight ranges in adult populations.
Strategies to reduce overweight and
obesity must combine interventions
aimed at both a healthy diet and
physical activity.
Reducing alcohol consumption
Some of the most eective are
population-level interventions,
including:
Pricing and taxation;
Minimum age for legal purchase of
alcohol;
Restrictions on hours or days of sale;
Drink-driving laws.
Reducing the prevalence of Hepatitis
B virus infection
The most cost-eective strategy for
preventing primary liver cancer is
universal vaccination with the hepatitis
B vaccine. The development of chronic
HBV infection is inversely related to
age of infection. Approximately 90%
of people infected perinatally develop
chronic HBV infection, as compared
with 30% infected in early childhood
and 6% infected afer 5 years of age.
Government of Nepal has already
begun immunization for Hepatitis B
virus, to control liver cancer.
Very litle data is available on cancer in
Nepal. The basis of our understanding
of the cancer problem is provided by the
incidence and mortality data generated
by cancer registries. Most of the data
are from Hospital based studies, and
international studies. Much is to be
done, and Richa Foundation sees itself
contributing to this need in the near
future.
Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter I 7
Cancer is the oldest disease prevalent
and aecting existence from early
stages of the world, which has crossed
the limitation and is established as a
responsible factor for death of millions of
people throughout the world. Nepal has
been aected from the very beginning,
where more than 50 thousand people
have already lost their lives. And still it
isnt a burning issue in our country. What
else is our government for? If a criminal
is murdered in the prison, it would be a
national issue. Here, thousands of people
are dying every year due to cancer. Why
has there been no action taken so far?
In spite of the growth of health
institutions in our country the situation
is geting worse. However, now the
hospitals are in the condition to oer
modern and advanced treatments (but
still, only in the major cities) to cancer
patient such as; radiation therapy,
surgical modalities, chemotherapy etc.
which was not possible a few years
ago. And still the cancer patients die
due to lack of treatment availability
throughout the nation. The prime
reason behind this is the progress to
advanced stages of cancer which is the
resonance of lack of preventive and
therapeutic health services nationwide.
If the health ministry puts forward
provision and projects for prevention
and early detection, the condition could
be brought to control. But, our country
is failing to put forth adequately, such
measures.
The Richa Bajimaya Memorial
Foundation (RBMF) was established
with an energetic force and with the
combined eort from personalities of
various professional backgrounds such
as engineers, doctors, media and many
more. Despite the explosive growth of
the communication arena, which has
resulted in more than 22 channels, 529
cables and 4871 print media available
in local, national and international
languages, they arent being mobilized
properly for awareness programs around
the nation. With this in mind, RBMF
in Nepal has always been focused on
face to face awareness and interaction
programs, holding screening camps,
promoting healthy living and other
programs intended to motivate our
society in the three highly populated
districts of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur &
Lalitpur. Their prime concern being to
change the view of the people towards
cancer, cancer patients and also on
mobilizing the youth against cancer.
If we unfold the o cial data le from
the past till now, we can clearly realize
the outcome of the eort of RBMF,
making people aware of their health
status with regular checkups. This
organization is able to bring certain
changes which are clearly visible. But
still, more eort is required for their
program to reach a wider population
and for this our government has to play
a vital role to completely eradicate the
disease like cancer.
Richa foundation is a very open
place to work and it provides a good
opportunity to share and apply your
raw ideas and replicate it into eective
things that can be helpful towards your
professional development. Working on
the issues relating to cancer was a really
good experience to develop oneself.
Today, cancer and its relating factor
are not new to me. I had developed a
clear vision about it, and was also able
to contribute knowledge about cancer
towards society during my training
period and it continues up till today. This
is only due to Richa foundation and its
open environment and I must thank Dr.
Deepak Shrestha, Biraj Chhetri, Jeevan
Shrestha and Sajani manandhar whose
motivation and support towards my
eort was remarkable.
Here are some of the trainees and
ex-trainees views towards the
organization:
If an individual get a chance to work
on his/her own choice then s/he can
give 100% eort towards it. This was
the environment that I got and must be
thankful towards it.- Anil Dhital
It was my golden opportunity to
be associated with RBMF for the
eradication of cancer. Wherever I will be
I will always be beside of organization
and its goal.- Ganju
OFF COURSE! Cancer Has Answers
Never , Never, Never Give Up.....
Asmit Kunwar
From a trainees pen - Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation
Ashmit Kunwar
Candle walk and lighting program on World Cancer day 2012
8 I Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter
Pink is for Power - Dr. Aditi Giri
With an upsurge of cancer cases all around
the world, no other cancer registers a
sense of catastrophe and fear than breast
cancer for women. It is the most common
invasive cancer in women everywhere. It
rears its ugly head from time to time in
all our lives, as we hear of our mothers,
sisters, aunts, friends falling victim to it-
a testament to how common this cancer
is in Nepal. But like all enemies, it too
generates solidarity among suerers and
enables the formation of a formidable
opposition- the support system of human
connections, reinforced by the strength of
knowledge.
It has been known for a long time that
early detection is our chief defense
against breast cancer. If caught early,
the prognosis is far beter than catching
it too late. This means that decreasing
the damage due to breast cancer does
not require expensive equipment or
medication. Instead, knowledge is the
weapon of choice. For this reason, a
whole month out of a year is dedicated
to raising awareness on breast cancer. We
celebrate October as the Breast Cancer
Awareness Month and use it to reach out
to all women, for all women are at risk.
Every woman should be aware of what
aspect of her life may put her at greater
risk of acquiring breast cancer and how
it can be detected in the earliest stages.
The Richa Foundations breast cancer
awareness programs aim at spreading all
this knowledge among Nepali women.
As a symbol of awareness and solidarity,
we use the international symbol of unison
against breast cancer- the pink ribbon.
Every woman has her own way of
dealing with the diagnosis of breast
cancer. It depends on her age, values
and the response of people around
her. It deals with issues of body image,
the uncertainty of treatment and the
obvious threat to life. In any case, there
is severe psychological strain associated.
Addressing this aspect of the disease is
just as important as the other medical
interventions. Most hospitals abroad
have breast cancer support groups. We
dont see that in Nepal. The Foundation,
thus, has taken initiative to create a basis
for a support group. In a country where
family means everything, support groups
are easily made and rapport is strongly
forged. A robust support group system
goes a long way in improving quality of
life for suerers as well as survivors.
Societal norms and traditions are deep
rooted in Nepali society and have
bearing on how we view breast cancer.
Our breast cancer spokesperson and
survivor, Mrs. Sushma Lily Maharjan,
expresses deep remorse every time
she talks about the reactions she got
for her diagnosis. People would point
the blame nger at her and say that
she must have done something to
bring this upon her. This, added to
the grave emotional ramications of
the diagnosis itself caused her to lose
ground in her batle against the cancer.
But she quickly regained advantage
with the help of dedicated doctors and
a support system of family and she
eventually won over her enemy. She
continues to be a source of inspiration
to every woman she connects with.
We are proud to be associated with a
woman of such strength. The Richa
Foundation is united against breast
cancer. For us, pink is for power!
Chabahil, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel/Fax +977-01-4484691
www.richafoundation.org.np
info@richafoundation.org.np
P.O.Box No.:23112
Felicitating our rst honorary member, Prof. Dr. Anjani
Kumar Sharma, a pioneer in the eld of cancer in Nepal
Lets see Cancer in Green - the color of life and a new state of
balance - Concept Launch by Mr. Diwakar Rajkarnikar, honorary
member, Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation
Contact Information

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