The 70th INF Day has been celebrated across INF Offices, and a special ceremony was organised to mark this milestone here in Green Pastures Hospital [GPH] on 17th November. The theme for the celebration was “Reflecting the past, celebrating the present and innovating the future.”
Inaugurating the special ceremony held in GPH, the Guest of Honour, the Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, Dhanraj Acharya, praised by saying, “While reaching 70 years of establishment in Nepal, INF has played a vital role in providing health care services, supporting the livelihood and promoting social inclusion in many rural communities of Nepal.” He added that Pokhara Metropolitan Office would cooperate with INF in its future endeavours to make Pokhara city a healthy city.
The chairperson of INF Nepal, Ramchandra Timothy, remembered the pioneers of INF who envisioned the organisation 70 years ago. He said that INF has 70 years of history and experience and is constantly working to keep its legacy and dignity high. INF International Chairperson Phil Lindsay highlighted the vision of the organisation, i.e., to serve Nepali people and help bring life in all its fullness.
The programme started with the welcome speech by Vice-Chairperson of INF Nepal, Rajendra Kumar Adhikari. Executive Director of INF Nepal, Krishna Adhikari, presented the organisation’s future plans while the Medical Services Director, Arun Kumar Budha shed light on the health care services provided by INF through its three hospitals including GPH.
The former leaders of the organisation – Dr Alison Craven, Dr Deependra Gautam and Dr Prem Subedi, and Head of the Leprosy Control and Disability Management Division Prashant Napit, shared their congratulatory messages during the programme.
During the programme, INF staff who have served for over ten years and former expatriate volunteers were felicitated. GPH staff Suresh Gauli, who has recently participated in the International Wheelchair tournament held in India representing Nepal, was also honoured.
This milestone was celebrated throughout the year by holding 70 different events, programmes and major activities. Some of the last few major celebration programmes were organised on 21st October in GPH in the presence of the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, on 3rd November in Surkhet, on 4th November in Banke and on 15th November in GPH.
These programmes saw the felicitations and recognition of various stakeholders such as government agencies, partner organisations, like-minded organisations, staff and expatriates from the past and current. These celebration programmes saw the presence of former staff, INF’s national and international representatives, INF families from around the world, partners and representatives from like-minded organisations. Indeed, it was a momentous celebration that helped us to remember our pioneers, their sacrifices and the vision with which INF started.
As a part of the 70 years celebration, two-anniversary books in English and Nepali containing the history, various milestones, and experiences of various people have been published.
Since 1952, INF has been serving in community development and medical services in close collaboration with government and partner organisations. INF has over 450 staff and has offices in various districts, including Bajura, Mugu, Jumla, Kalikot, Surkhet, Banke, Dang, Rolpa, Kapilvastu, Gorkha, Kaski and Kathmandu.
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