KATHMANDU, JANUARY 27

Nepal Mountaineering Association today distributed warm clothes and health essentials to 200 leprosy patients sheltered at Khokana Leprosy Camp.

The distribution was carried out under the project 'A humanitarian Support programme for COVID-affected mountaineers and Leprosy-affected people' initiated by the NMA with funding support from the Nippon Foundation of Japan.

Ata programme organised on the premises of the Khokana Arogya Aashram, chairperson of Dakshinkali Municipality Ramchandra Kshetry, President of NMA Santa Bir Lama and Administrative Officer of Nepal Leprosy Relief Association Jeet Bahadur Hamal handed over warm clothes and health essentials to the beneficiaries.

NMA General Secretary Kul Bahadur Gurung, Secretary Tikaram Gurung, Treasurer Sudarshan Neupane, Secretariat member trio Dipendra Pandey, Singi Lama and Shiva Bahadur Sapkota, Central executive board members Sanjeev Gurung, Pasang Bhote, and Sarki Tamang, and Chief Executive Officer of NMA Kul Prasad Rai also attended the distribution programme.

Every person sheltered at the camp received a jacket, a double-sized blanket, a bottle of 236ml hand sanitiser, a pair of Dettol soap and a packet of masks containing 50 pieces. The camp is currently serving 200 leprosy patients from across the country. The recipients expressed their gratitude towards the NMA and TNF for the help.

''This is not the first time the Nippon Foundation has helped us. I still remember receiving great help from the foundation. We are very thankful to the foundation and NMA for doing all this for us,'' said Uma Prasad Tiwari, a leprosy patient at the camp. ''We have nothing to give you back but I want to thank the president and members of the foundation.

Also, I would like to thank the NMA family for thinking about us.'' NMA president Lama traced the history of help provided by TNF to the leprosy patients of Nepal. ''I have come here time and again with the delegates of Nippon Foundation. This time also, it has become possible only because of the foundation,'' Lama said.

''Respected Chairperson of the Foundation Hohei Sasakawa and staffers have been showering their love from the very beginning. I believe this will help you all deal with this chill of winter.'' Senior Director of the foundation Seko Masato also addressed the event. He said the help being provided to leprosy patients would be crucial for their daily lives.

''This is a great opportunity for us. This is one of the areas the foundation has been working for quite long,'' he said. Connecting via Zoom, he said, ''I hope this will be important for you all. I also want to thank the president of NMA Santa sir and NMA family for doing such a remarkable work.'' Programme Director of the foundation Makoto Wada and Programme Officer Remi Masuda had also joined the programme through Zoom.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 28, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.