Cancer patients continue receiving treatment in Purbanchal Cancer Hospital amid lockdown

For the cancer patient like Bindu Baral, 53, from Urlabari, Morang, who regularly have to avail radiation and chemotherapy, the lockdown could have spelt doom but thanks to the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital at Birtamod in Jhapa district, she is receiving healthcare services she needed to keep going.  

The Cancer Hospital, despite the nationwide lockdown enforced since March 24, has providing its regular services to the cancer patients unabatedly, kindling hope among those worried for lack of treatment during the lockdown.  

Similarly, 64-year-old Prem Kumari Khatiwada of Kamal rural municipality-2 from the same district was also overjoyed when she found beacon of hope in the Purbanchal Cancer Hospital as she could receive treatment conveniently for her cancer diagnosis to be in the first stage.  

No sooner had she arrived the Hospital, she got her turn for radiation. “The doctors were working regularly amid such crisis. As a result, cancer patient like me were benefited with the treatment,” she beamed. Medical director at the Hospital and oncologist Dr Birendra Yadav shared that cancer patients were flocking at the Hospital considerably- especially those from State 1 and 2 during this lockdown as travelling far-flung becomes troublesome for them during such times.  

Dr Yadav informed the Hospital had been running services like OPD, radiation, chemotherapy, surgeries and operating the lab even during the lockdown ordered by the government to contain the outbreak of COVID-19. “Around 40 patients visit the Hospital for OPD services on a daily basis during the lockdown,” he said, adding that 30 patients have already received radiation and 15 got chemotherapy since March 24.  

The emergency service is on round-the-clock here while cancer specialist doctors are available in the Hospital from 8am to 6pm, according to public relation officer at the Hospital, Pramis Giri. Giri said that the Hospital had arranged adequate human resources, medicines and equipment to continue with the regular services even at the time of adverse situation.