JHAPA: Cancer cases are on the rise at Kachankawal rural municipality in Jhapa. According to the Office of the Rural Municipality, Health Section chief Jageshwor Prasad Yadav, the local government recommended 28 cancer patients for the government financial assistance in a year (July, 2021 to August, 2022).

Similarly, 12 cancer patients had received recommendation in the previous year.

Until some years ago, five-six cancer patients approached the local government for the recommendations and lately the number is on the rise, according to him. Unhealthy food habit and lifestyle being one of the major causes of cancer, he assessed.

He stressed the need for establishing a food laboratory along the border areas. Food imports from neighboring India go on without any quality and safety check measures. It may be noted that earlier high scale of pesticide residues was found in vegetables at the Birtamod-based vegetable market. The produces were imported from India.

Following this, the import was briefly tightened. Similarly, the local government recommended 11 kidney and seven heart patients for the medical assistance and dialysis.

The rural municipality recommends the Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan and Purbanchal Cancer Hospital, Birtamod for medical assistance and dialysis for cancer patients. Being based on the recommendation, the patient is eligible for a discount worth Rs 100,000 on medical expenses.

According to the rural municipality vice chair Nawaraj Bhattarai, the local government also provides financial assistance from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 in case of chronological diseases. Besides, the local government ensures Rs 3,000 as the nutrition expense for a new mother, and Rs 5,000 as death rituals expenses.

The construction of a 15-bed medical facility is underway with investments of the Federal Government. There are a primary health center, nine health posts and two basic health centers in Kachankawal.