The Binaytara Foundation in partnership with local government is establishing a comprehensive cancer center in the municipality of Ramgopalpur in Nepal, located about 30 minutes from Janakpur. It’ll be the first cancer center in the region, providing cutting-edge treatment to patients while also serving as a hub for research and education.
The center is desperately needed in the region, which currently lacks a public comprehensive cancer center. It will be the only public state-of-the-art cancer center in Nepal’s Province No. 2, which is the most densely populated province in the country. The center will serve a population area of about 15 million, including those from neighboring provinces and India. The establishment of this center comes at a time when Nepal and the rest of Southeast Asia is experiencing a surging burden of noncommunicable disease. Being a developing country, oncology in Nepal is currently in its infancy. With little access to care, mortality rates due to cancer in the area are disproportionately higher than in developed countries. The Cancer Index lists Nepal’s cancer incidence as 141.6 per 100,000 population with a high mortality rate. We know cancer incidence is likely much higher, due to the country’s poor reporting tools and significant lack of infrastructure.
Northwest Cancer Climb events are recurring hiking events in the Pacific Northwest. Funds raised go toward local patient advocacy, and the Binaytara Foundation’s cancer center in southeast Nepal.