NNCTR / INCTR Nepal

Report, 2004

 

 

Background :

 

Nepal is one of the few countries that has levied special taxes  cancer  causing products like cigarettes, alcohol etc. The major revenue  parts of the collected are  canalized to cancer hospitals and other preventive programs . Part of funds are also utilized for advertising in T.V , Radio and in other media for educating people to refrain, from using cancer causing products .

 

The current population of Nepal is 24.30 million. There are 75 districts. The population varies district to district from about 10,000 to  more then a million . Local Governments - 75 DDC , 58 Municipalities and nearly 4000 VDC . There are more then 12000 , NGOs and Social Service originations in Nepal . NGOs are registered at District Administration Office . They are also to be registered in several councils and organization having its programs / activities at least in 3 districts is entitled to have national status. NNCTR / INCTR Nepal so having its program in 5 districts and so have the national status .

 

Cancer is a fatal disease for human life. The number of people suffering from cancer is also increasing in Nepal. It is evidently necessary that a program to combat cancer in time has to be undertaken as a national campaign. For this purpose, it is necessary to make a joint effort by His Majesty's Government, NGO's, communities and other entities.

 

It is necessary in a developing country like Nepal to bring public awareness about this sensitive subject among the general public through education . A long-term national plan about cancer in Nepal seems necessary.

 

 The Nepal Network for Cancer Treatment and Research was established on 27 August 2004 in a meeting by the joint efforts of those involved in different fields, government and non-government organizations, hospitals, intellectuals and doctors with the objective of supporting a long-term plan for prevention, treatment and research on cancer in Nepal.

 

 

Main Objective :

 

Fully dedicated to humanitarian service on a non-profit basis, the main objective of this organization is to undertake on its own or in close collaboration with different organizations and The Ministry of Health of His Majesty's Government, directly or indirectly support activities related to the prevention, control, study, treatment and research on cancer in Nepal.

 

Legal status of the Organization :

 

The organization has been registered as a non-profit social organization under the Nepal Organizations Registration Act, with Samaj Kalyan Parishad ( Social Welfare Council ) , Kathmandu; District Administrative Office, Kabhre; Federation of NGO's , Nepal; District Social Organizations Coordination Committee, Kabhre; and Rastriya Swasthe Anusandhan Parishad ( National Health Research Council ), Kathmandu.

 

Current Program and Activities :

 

A. Cancer Education Program :

 

With the support of INCTR Belgium, NNCTR / INCTR Nepal has undertaken various cancer related programs in coordination with local organizations, offices and hospitals since three years. The main program is Cancer Education.   Cancer Education would be imparted to 9,000 individuals in accordance with the Plan for 2004.

 

Cancer Education Program Activities Table

2004

 

S.N

Program

 

No. of units

 

No. of Beneficiaries

 

Target Groups

No. of                                         Districts

Achievement

 

No.of units

No. of Beneficiaries

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 Training :

a.         Refresher course for Cancer Education Training  

Duration :  6 days

 b.        Re-Refresher course for cancer Education Training               Duration :   3 days

 

 

   Cancer Education Program

-         School Level

-         Higher Secondary School Level

-         Health Institute Level

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

50

 

18

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

5000

 

Health post Incharges, Nurses, NGO representatives, Health Teachers

 

 

 

 

 

Class 8 & 9 Students; College Students; CMA & ANM Students

5 - Kaski, Makawanpur, Kathmandu, Madhyapur Thimi; Kabhre

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

33

 

 

5

 

2

 

18

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

6868

 

 

1041

 

150

 

 

3

 

Cancer related Workshop Programs :

-         community level - 50

-         Health post level - 20

-         Hospital level      -   5

 

 

 

75

 

 

 

4000

 

Individuals of communities and Village Development Committees; Health Workers of Health posts and Hospitals and Officials.

 

 

 

 

37

10

4

 

 

 

3299

642

172

 

Total

127

9027

 

 

91

12198

 

 

 

 Cancer Education at Various Levels - Implementation :

Cancer Education programs are being implemented and local resources utilized in coordination with the district communities, organizations, health posts and hospitals in the concerned districts.

 

 

 

Benefits :

-         More than 12189 individuals have had Cancer Education in 5 districts in the period November 2003 - Dec. 2004

-         School students have been found to be an effective and easy media for the dissemination of Cancer Education.

-         The sale of the booklet on Cancer published by the organization is going to be made through Sajha Prakashan, the national publications agency.

-          As a result, the general public will also become familiar with Cancer education and it will be a small but important source of financial resource for the organization.

-         Financial aid has been received from various organizations (ADRA Nepal and others) for the publication of the booklet on cancer.

 

 

B.  Preliminary Cervical Cancer Screening Program :

 

1. According to the Preliminary Survey of Cervical Cancer Screening in Kabhre district  undertaken by the Banepa Center, with the support of WHO/ IARC Lyon, France and INCTR,  Belgium, the incidence of cervical cancer in Nepal seems to be relatively minimal. However, the findings reveal a greater incidence of infections of different kinds   in the cervix that result in  Uterus prolapse It is a heart-rending Problem.

 

    So far 135 women have had follow-ups under an additional test and treatment program.      It has shown that the regular test has contributed to the improvement of heath among the women suffering from cervix defects.

 

2.         Formation of Cancer Program Network :

 

    A joint efforts has been made by NNCTR / INCTR , Kabhre district Health Office and its health posts, and local hospitals to establish a model cancer program network in Kabhre to conduct preliminary cervical cancer  screening by utilizing local resources and facilities.

 

 

The Plan :

 

-         To provide training to Nurses in Health Posts and Hospitals located in different remote villages of Kabhre district to develop skills in preliminary cervical Screening.

-         To conduct preliminary screening in the concerned Health Posts and Hospitals.

-         NNCTR / INCTR Nepal to arrange, in the initial stage of the program, for implements and medicines in Health Posts, to supervise at times and to conduct training as necessary to analyze  data and prepare reports.

-         To work for the integration of this program in the primary health care services program of His Majesty's Government.

-         If the program is found effective, to suggest to the Ministry of Health, HMG, to include it in the Primary Health Care Program for the district as a whole.

 

Activities :

 

Eighteen Nurses from 5 hospitals , Heath Posts and Primary Health Centers (PHC) under the District Health Office, Dhulikhel, Kabhre were given a three-day training in the development of skills for preliminary cervical screening jointly by NNCTR / INCTR Nepal, the Scheer Memorial Hospital and District Health Office from 8 to 10th August, 2004 . Preliminary Cervical Screening are being undertaken by the concerned Heath Posts and Hospitals at present.

 

Benefits :

 

-         Opportunities for cervical screening at the local level have been made available and preliminary screening has been done successfully on more 810 women at different villages.

-         Arrangements have been made for follow-up tests at Scheer Memorial Hospital.

-          Opportunities have been made available for local health workers to acquire new skills and knowledge and to make proper use of local resources and facilities.

-         The ability to provide maximum service at minimum cost.

-         This program has provided great support to disseminate Cancer Education and Treatment .

 

C.      Palliative Care Program in Nepal and Benefits :

 

As there was almost no knowledge among health workers about Palliative Care, They have taken it up as a new area . Taking the situation into consideration, NNCTR / INCTR Nepal has formed, under its own auspices, a Palliative Care group of concerned health workers. The current activities and benefits of this group are as follows :

 

1. An opportunity for training in Palliative Care for doctors from different      hospitals in     Nepal at Calicut, India.

2. To provide for Palliative Care Services in five different hospitals in Nepal. Work is going on at present for the establishment of  Palliative      Care centers and their operation.

3. Thirteen nurses from different hospitals are getting training in Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing (BCCPN) at Calicut, India.

4.The interaction, meetings, discussions, seminars, etc. from time to time between    INCTR representatives and foreign experts in Palliative Care and Nepalese doctors have provided an opportunity for health workers in Nepal to have a better knowledge about Palliative Care.

5. Palliative care educations being provided by trained doctors to heath workers in hospitals.

6. Various activities are going on in connection with the preparation of a Palliative Care Practices .

 

  Plan & program - 2005 :

 

            1.         Cancer education program  5 districts

            2.         Cervical Cancer screening program - Expansion of Cervical Cancer screening in 2 new districts of Nepal .

            3.         Breast Cancer Screening program .