Bhaktapur, November 25

BP Eye Foundation, and Children’s Hospital for Eye, ENT & Rehabilitation Services today felicitated and awarded honorary membership to Prof Dr Takeshi Naito from Tokushima University, Japan for his contribution to expanding and enhancing eye-care services in the country.

Shanta Bahadur Shrestha, secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, today felicitated him by offering khada (silk scarf), a Dhaka Topi (Nepali cap) and awarding a certificate.

Speaking at the programme, Shrestha briefed on the current situation of the health sector and shortage of medicines in hospitals and health care centres. He also informed about steps being taken by the government to ease supply of medicines.

“We have world-class health care facilities in our country,” he said, adding, “However, at present we are facing difficulties importing medicines and supplying it due to the ongoing Madhes agitation and the unofficial blockade imposed by India on Nepal.”

He further informed that the government had enough stock of 11 categories of medicines to last for a week and other general medicines to last for at least a month.

Masashi Ogawa, Japanese ambassador to Nepal, today pledged support to Nepal in this time of crisis. He stated that Japan was ready to provide all kinds of support to Nepal government.

Prof Dr Madan Upadhyay, former chairman of BP Eye Foundation, and Dr Purna Chandra Karmacharya, chairman of the BP Eye Foundation, praised Prof Dr Naito for his valuable contribution to eye service sector in Nepal.

Prof Dr Naito had come to Nepal in 1984 for the first time when the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital set up a separate Eye Department.

He worked there for six months initially. Later, he visited the country numerous times and worked for the development of eye care services in Nepal.