Kathmandu, January 12

Minister of Water Supply and Sanitation Bina Magar said the government would ensure supply of drinking water supply to all government hospitals.

Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Clean drinking water plant’ and Cancer Survivor Club at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Minister Magar admitted that the government had not been able to ensure drinking water supply to all hospitals. “We are trying to solve the problem of drinking water at government hospitals as soon as possible,” she shared.

Similarly, she also said there was a need for making people aware of cancer in remote areas. “People in the remote areas are not aware of diseases like cancer due to which they do not seek treatment on time,” she said, adding that all health workers, civil society members, different organisations and the government should work together to make people aware of the disease and free treatment services offered by the government.

Coordinator of Cancer Survivor Club Dr Rosan Prajapati said one-third of the cancer patients could be prevented from suffering the disease through awareness and the lives of the other one-third could be saved if treated on time. “The most important thing for cancer patients is family support. Cancer patients face physical and mental trauma during the course of treatment as they lack required care and support from family members. So it has become even more important to educate people about diseases like cancer,” he added.

Prasanni Devi Ghiraiya donated Rs 1.2 million for the construction of drinking water plant at Bhaktapur Hospital. Likewise, Rima Shrestha donated an ultrasound machine worth Rs 2.3 million to the hospital.

“Every day, some 500 new patients visit the hospital and the construction of drinking water plant will benefit the patients,” said Lokendra Kumar Shrestha, director of Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital.