Kodak & Photo Concern assists Cancer Relief in Nepal »

Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases affecting millions worldwide, irrespective of their economic and social conditions. Nepal too has its share of this menacing disease with an estimated 80 to 90 persons affected by the disease everyday. In Nepal, cancer patients face the disadvantage of social security to meet costs in health care, and the minors who make the majority of them, have little recourse but to face the ailment painfully. Getting even basic treatment to redress the suffering is a far cry for them.

Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) is one of the few NGOs that have attempted to support the healthy effort for relief primarily with the help of donor support from organizations and individuals. However, these few philanthropic acts are mostly limited to a single donation causing the possibilities of sustainable treatment of cancer patients interrupted.

Kodak and Photo Concern, have in their own way, decided to interpret their unique slogan 'Share Moments, Share Life' and 'Creating Reasons to Smile' respectively, with a genuine concern for care and treatment of cancer patients in Nepal. Photo Concern had pledged to set aside NPR 2/- for donation to the NCRS from orders placed for each developing and printing carried out via their strength of a hundred retail Kodak Express presence spanning across 29 cities and towns in the kingdom on 3rd May, 2003.

Through their vast retail chain, Kodak Express processes D&P on about 2000 films daily adding upto an execution of 50,000 orders per month which results an earmarked amount of NPR 1 Lakh per month.

Kodak & Photo Concern today impart the second installment of NPR 5 Lakh to NCRS against five months of charity following the first installment of NPR 2 Lakh for May-June 2003. The Chairman of Photo Concern Mr. D.B. Thapa handed over the Cheque to Mr. Diwakar Raj Karnikar, Chairman of NCRS.

The collected amount however is not collected from Kodak customers; instead it is parted from the earnings from the D&P orders. In a way, it is the customers, who through their patronage of Kodak will be helping the cause collectively.

This Kodak effort could be an example in Nepal to help create a degree of health security for the masses in the absence of adequate state support in meeting the cost of such fatal disease.

November 16, 2003