richa foundation newsletter issue 1

7/30/2019 Richa Foundation Newsletter Issue 1

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Presidents Note - Dr. Deepak S. Shrestha

Greetings to all,

Hearty congratulations to the media

department and all associated for

the successful publication of the first

edition of the foundation newsleter.

In todays fast paced world, we believe

that this newsleter will prove to be

very much beneficial for keeping us

connected and well informed of the

various updates happening in the

foundation and in the field of Cancer.

It is with fond memories that I recall

the establishment of the foundation

and the very essence on which it wasestablished. Our close experience with

cancer made us realize how big and

diverse impact this simple one litle

word disease really has. How cancer

not only affects a body part of a person

but also rather brings about a big

turmoil in the whole family. How the

way society perceives cancer patient

and the family may be more hurtful

than actually undergoing a surgery or

taking chemotherapy.

We also realized that still myths exist

regarding cancer. Thus acknowledging

the dire need for a holistic and united

fight against cancer, Richa Bajimaya

Memorial Foundation came to existence

on 10th October 2007 to contribute our

part in this batle.

Since its inception, the foundation has

faced many challenges. But as said

challenges bring about opportunities

and at many times the best in you.

The journey has been a very testing

and learning experience. There have

been hard times, but the support andwell wishes extended by all has made

travelling together more effective and

joyful.

I would like to sincerely acknowledge

all our well wishers for their continuous

support and encouragement, which we

are confident will only grow with each

passing day.

I would also like to appeal to all to join

forces with us and unite for a movementagainst cancer. No support is big or

small, every litle contribution maters.

As Edmund Burke quotes NOBODY

MADE A GREATER MISTAKE THAN

HE WHO DID NOTHING BECAUSE

HE COULD ONLY DO A LITTLE.

Let us all play our part and unite for a

movement against cancer.

Wishing you all a healthy and

prosperous life ahead.

United Against Cancer

hgr]tgfdfElixir Club

A day with the pioneers

From the Heart

Smoking and Cancer

Foundation Timeline

Cancer Few preventive atitudes?

From a trainees pen

Pink is for Power

223

34,5678

25 th March, 2012 | Issue 1

Inside this issue

Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation

The Tobacco Control and Regulatory

Act 2068 implemented from August

7th, 2011.

Act provides several provisions tocontrol the effects caused by tobacco

and introduces penalties for the

violations. Some of them are:

Prohibition of smoking in public

places.

Prohibition of sale of tobacco

products to minors and pregnant

women.

Prohibition of advertisement,

promotion and sponsorship relatedto tobacco products.

Prohibition of sale of tobacco

products within 100 meters of

educational and health institutions.

Prohibition of sale of individual

cigaretes.

Inclusion of Pictorial Warnings

covering at least 75% of the packet

area.

Display of No Smoking sign at

public places.


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2 I Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter

hgr]tgfdf Elixir Club -Jeewan Shrestha

clS;8]06nklAns :s"nsf] :sfp6, Elixir Clubtyf Interact Club sf] ;ls|otfdf wflblhNnfsf] b'jf{yf]s ufpFdf ljleGg sfo{s|dx?sf]cfof]hgf eof] . pQm sfo{s|ddf Crf alhdo:d[lt kmfp08]zgaf6 pTkflbt x'Gg j[Qlrqsf]k|bz{g klg ;dfj]z lyof] . pQm j[Qlrq kZrft\OPS Elixir Club sf pkfWIf k|s[lt lg/f}nfaf6;'lt{;]jg ;DaGwL ljleGg tYo tyf hfgsf/Lx?

On Mangsir 14th 2068, a group of 12

students from the Elixir club of V. S.

Niketan School, headed out of their

school gate. Not to return to their homesor for a field trip but to find out about

the very promising new act passed

on Shrawan 22nd 2068, The Tobacco

Control and Regulation Act 2011.

These students had been provided

with the pamphlets of the new act

and briefed about this act by the Richa

Bajimaya Memorial Foundation. And

this writer got a chance to accompany

this motivated group along their

excursions for the next two hours.

On Mangsir 7th, in the Elixir club

Meeting of V. S. Niketan School, this

plan was conceived by the students

themselves with the guidance of their

inspirational Elixir Supervisor. The idea

was to go to all the shops, tea shops and

A day with the Pioneers - Dr. Poojan Shrestha

stores around their school. There the

students would ask questions regarding

the knowledge of the recently passed

act, educate them about the same,explain the negative effects of tobacco,

and make them aware of cancer and its

prevention. They were able to carry out

this Survey and Awareness campaign

in 29 different shops in the Tinkune

area surrounding V.S. Niketan School.

The verve and the confidence shown

by this group while educating and

presenting would surprise and make

proud anyone witnessing them. In a

group of three, they asked questions,told the facts and did not hesitate to

repeat when the shopkeepers did not

understand. There were a few unlucky

citizens who were lighting cigaretes at

these places. They too were respectfully

interrogated and then enlightened by

this enthusiastic group about the act

and the harm caused by tobacco. They

dared not to light the cigarete in the

presence of these children, and someeven fled the scene.

And in the end, all the children had one

thing to say. Can we do this tomorrow

as well? I am sure that anyone whomet these kids will not forget about the

message they carried with them.

The Tobacco Control and Regulation

Act was passed on Shrawan 22nd 2068

and received with much enthusiasm

and anticipation by the generalpublic and the various concerned

organizations. A very promising

step with comprehensive guidelines

enclosed, if acted upon stringently

by the government and accepted by

the general public could be the key

to making our society tobacco free.

But the failure of the government to

properly enact this framework even

afer numerous calls by the various

organizations and public bodies is a

pity. In the light of this failure, a groupof young children going out and making

aware their society of this new act and

motivating their friends, elders to think

about the law and its implications is a

big step, an example, a wake up call

for the incumbents holding responsible

positions. If this campaign is followed

upon by other schools and the youth

encouraged, this could be a very

successful strategy to start a movement

for tobacco control from the grassroots.

Together it is possible

pkl:yt sl/a #)) hgdfg;dfem afF8\g] sfo{eof] . pQm ufpFdf ;'lt{;]jg ug]{ jfl;Gbfx? pNn]Vo dfqfdf /x]sf] / To;sf] c;/ af/] cgle1/x]sf] kfOof] . pQm j[Qlrqsf] Ps b[Zo, h;dfw'd|kfgaf6 d'6', kmf]S;f], lbdfudf x'g] c;/ b]vfOPsf] lyof], x]/]kZrft\ cfkm"x?n] aNn c;/af/] yfxf kfPsf] ufpFn]x?n] atfP . k|Zgf]Q/ vf;}gePklg sl/a $) ldg]6 nfdf] pQm r]tgfd'ns

sfo{s|ddf ufpFn]x?n] ;'lt{;]jg;Fu ;DalGwtljleGg hfgsf/Lx? eg] xfl;n u/] . OPS ElixirClub sf Elixir Supervisor >L ho k|tfkcfn]sf cg';f/ pQm sfo{s|dsf] tTsfn c;/sf]?kdf @ hgfn] w'd|kfg kl/Tofu u/]sf 5g\ . t/jf:tljs k|efjsfl/tf eg] s]xL ;do kZrft\dfq d"Nof+sg ug{ ;lsg]5 .


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Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation Newsletter I 3

Life is an expectation of accidental

events. We dont know what will happen

the next second. Life is a gif of god so it

must that we utilize it properly. Life of a

person is not always happy. Many times,

a person has to face problems whichbring sadness and sorrow to his life and

one of the major problem resulting is in

his own health condition.

People suffer from a lot of diseases in

their lifetime. A major problem seen in

todays youth is smoking. Smoking is

injurious to health, but this statement is

misunderstood or neglected by majority

of people. Smoking has no positive effect.

It brings misery in ones life. It degrades

our civilization. In our country thereis a huge proportion of adolescent and

youths who consume cigaretes. They

have no seriousness. They dont know

the value of life.

People smoke mainly for fun and also

due to their imitating habits. They copy

bad habits from their companions, family

and relatives. But there are some people

who smoke due to their adversaries.

They feel the burden of life is reduced

and lighter by smoking. It gives them atimely relaxation but engulfs their life.

Similarly, there are some other groups of

people who smoke without knowing the

reason for it. It is mainly done by those

who lack proper guidance, supervision

or those who are fed up from life and

want to end it.

As we all know that smoking does

no good to ones health. It is indeed

very harmful. It consists of those toxic

substances that can take ones life. People

dont understand the value of their own

life. They lose it. And combining the

drops of water, a large ocean is formed

and in the same way with life of a single

person a whole country is formed.

And the death of countrymen makes

the whole country cry. Furthermore,

smoking invites a lot of deadly diseases.It kills people slowly and gradually.

Now lets talk about cancer. Cancer is

a disease which is a result of smoking.

Cancer is a very deadly disease. It is ofen

a cause of premature death in many

people. The intoxicants consumed by

them is piled up or gathered together and

causes cancer.

We have already described that the

main cause of cancer is smoking. Deathis its ultimate result. It is very much

dangerous. So, the answer to this maybe

to bring awareness among people about

smoking and cancer. There must be public

awareness and participation. Similarly

government should also take steps to

control the problem. The consciousness

of an individual is also very important.

It will save life of lot of people and stop

them from doing nuisance things.people

will know the importance of life. So,many organizations are also formed

for this motive. Those organization are

service motive and self dependant. There

are many institutions which help to leave

this habit.

If people join their hands together and go

for it, nothing is impossible. Our country

maybe the country free from social evils

and diseases one day. It may be the

leading example of civilization. By this

our earth will be a happy, peaceful andprosperous place to live with its people

civilized and healthy.

Smoking and Cancer Sandisha Shrestha 9 E

Winning Essay Organized by Elixir Club, V. S. Niketan School

From the Heart - Sushma Maharjan Lilly and Mike E. Lilly

Being named to the position of

Pink Ribbon Advocate for the Richa

Memorial Foundation a year ago has

changed my life significantly as did

my own life change forever when I

was diagnosed with breast cancer and

the ensuing months of treatment andgeting back to a vibrant life.

Since that time, with the loving

support of my husband, Mike, and

the incredible team at Richa Memorial

Foundation we have touched and

inspired many women and girls to take

charge of their lives and get checkups.

So many are reluctant to talk about or

this particular form of cancer because

of the stigma and shyness atached to

that part of the body.

But I believe we are opening doors of

awareness with aggressive campaigning

and programs such as the secondary

school elixir clubs. There is a franknessand a desire to understand and a desire

to help their own mothers and female

relatives know correct information afer

hearing our talks. I speak from the heart

of my own struggle and it is difficult

to do at times, but it must be done. My

husband and I also are involved in

helping children at Kanti Hospital to

have a beter chance of surviving and

to have a beter quality of life for them

and their family. Childhood cancer is

curable, but cleanliness of the hospital,

nutrition of their food, and clean water is

so important. We are so appreciative of

the wonderful team at Richa Memorial

Foundation for helping us with these

programs. United against cancer is what

we are.


4/8


Established Year

- Officially registered as

an NGO in the year 2007

with a vision of Uniting

for a movement against

cancer

Its establishment is a

tribute to Late Ms. Richa

Bajimaya born on 28th

October 1984, who lef

us all with a heavy heart

on 25th March 2007,

fighting till the very end

with cancer

Together we can

- Blood Donation Program

Jointly organized with

Rotaract club of Kathmandu

Fund raiser activities from

Deusi Bhailo Program

and Musical Event for

Togetherness with Kutumba

a folk instrumental Nepali

Band

Formation of First Elixir

Club, a network of school

based club with a vision ofYouth for cancer awareness

and prevention in Ideal

Model School.

Forming

- Sensitization Pr

collaboration with

Celebrated Year

Youth organizatio

Painting , Photo E

Informative Stalls

event

Participated in

medical team.

Participated as a

Free Campaign of

of right to food is

Awareness and Interaction

Expansion of Elixir networks

Cancer Awareness and Interaction

programs in Elixir and other schools

Fun Filled Healthy Winter Camp for

children with on objective to impart

healthy lifestyle from their childhood.

Health and Dental Checkup Camp for

the Children.

Different Inter school and Intra school

competitions with a theme of cancer

awareness and prevention


5/8


Collaboration

am on Breast Cancer in

pal Cancer Support Group

Youth with 24 different

Cancer Awareness Canvas

ition and Interactive and

re few highlights of the

bal Peace Festival as a

dical team in the Hunger-

vista Nepal with a theme

ht to live

Cancer Can be Prevented Too

World Cancer Day celebrated with a theme of Cancer can be

prevented too through different events - Ask the doctor, Elixiractivities display, Drama, Signature Campaign, Installation Art, Art

Display, Standing Museum, Flyer Distribution and Candle Lighting

Students Meet 2011 - Tobacco and Cancer The Event of Group

Debate, Art competition, Essay writing, Speech were conducted

with the participation from eight schools

FCTC Awareness Campaign of Tobacco Control and Regulatory Act

2011 in collaboration with six different organizations by Placards

display, flyers distribution, Installation Art and Rally in three

historical cities Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar square.

Cancer Awareness & Interaction Program in Thames InternationalCollege, SOS, VS Niketan, Cambridge Public High School, Leo Club

Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Program -VS Niketan

School, Ideal Model School, Occidental Public School, Women

Federation for Global Peace

Highlights

- Successful establishment

of eight active elixir units inKathmandu, Lalitpur andBhaktapur.

- Conducted awarenessand interaction programsreaching more than 5000children and youth.

- Supported eightcancer families find theirWAY AHEAD, morallysupporting them in their

bat

le against Cancer.

- United AgainstCancer Collaborated withvarious individuals andorganizations on variousoccasions.


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Cancer is a generic term for a large

group of diseases that can affect any

part of the body. Other terms used are

malignant tumors and neoplasms. One

defining feature of cancer is the rapid

creation of abnormal cells that grow

beyond their usual boundaries, andwhich can then invade adjoining parts

of the body and spread to other organs.

This process is referred to as metastasis.

Metastases are the major cause of death

from cancer.

Cancer is to a large extent avoidable.

Many cancers can be prevented.

Others can be detected early in their

development, treated and cured. Even

with late stage cancer, the pain can be

reduced, the progression of the cancerslowed, and patients and their families

helped to cope. Cancer is a leading cause

of death globally. The World Health

Organization estimates that 7.6 million

people died of cancer in 2005 and 84

million people will die in the next 10

years if action is not taken. More than

70% of all cancer deaths occur in low-

and middle-income countries, where

resources available for prevention,

diagnosis and treatment of cancer are

limited or nonexistent.

But because of the wealth of available

knowledge, all countries can, at some

useful level, implement the four

basic components of cancer control

prevention, early detection, diagnosis

and treatment, and palliative care and

thus avoid and cure many cancers, as

well as palliating the suffering.

Cancer prevention is an essential

component of the fight against cancer.Unfortunately, many prevention

measures that are both cost-effective

and inexpensive have yet to be widely

implemented in many countries.

Cancer prevention must be considered

in the context of activities to prevent

other chronic diseases, especially those

with which cancer shares common

risk factors, such as cardiovascular

diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory

diseases and alcohol dependence.

The following sections outline currentknowledge about few effective

interventions in reducing exposure to

Cancer Few preventive attitudes? - Dr. Prashant Khatiwada

the various cancer risk factors. These

are World Health Organization (WHO)

recommended approaches.

Reducing Tobacco Use

We must follow a mix interventions aimed

at reducing tobacco use, protecting non-smokers from tobacco smoke exposure

and regulating tobacco products. For

this Nepal government has signed WHO

Framework Convention on Tobacco

Control, which is an international,

legally-binding treaty. The most cost

effective population wide policies in it

include

Tobacco price increases achieved

through raising taxes;

Creating 100% smoke-freeenvironments in all public spaces

and workplaces;

Banning direct and indirect tobacco

advertising;

Large, clear, explicit health warnings

on tobacco packaging.

Promoting a healthy diet

A healthy diet is characterized by:

Limiting energy intake from total fat

and shifing fat consumption awayfrom saturated fats to unsaturated

fats and towards the elimination of

trans-faty acids;

Increasing consumption of fruits,

vegetables, legumes, whole grains

and nuts;

Limiting intake of free sugars;

Limiting salt (sodium) consumption

from all sources and ensuring that

salt is iodized.

Effective ways to promote a healthydiet at population and individual levels

include:

Health incentives to buy fruit and

vegetables

Clear nutritional labels on food

products;

Providing healthy meals in schools,

workplaces and other institutions;

Access to personalized nutritional

advice as part of health-care services.

Increasing regular physical activity

To increase physical activity levels in a

population, it is necessary to adopt an

integrated approach involving not only

the health sector, but also the sport and

recreation, education, transport and

urban planning sectors. Interventions

promoting moderate intensity activity,

particularly walking, which are notfacility dependent, are advisable.

Reducing overweight and obesity

WHO recommends that people

maintain a healthy weight throughout

their lives. The body mass index (BMI)

commonly used to define healthy

weight ranges in adult populations.

Strategies to reduce overweight and

obesity must combine interventions

aimed at both a healthy diet and

physical activity.

Reducing alcohol consumption

Some of the most effective are

population-level interventions,

including:

Pricing and taxation;

Minimum age for legal purchase of

alcohol;

Restrictions on hours or days of sale;

Drink-driving laws.

Reducing the prevalence of Hepatitis

B virus infection

The most cost-effective strategy for

preventing primary liver cancer is

universal vaccination with the hepatitis

B vaccine. The development of chronic

HBV infection is inversely related to

age of infection. Approximately 90%

of people infected perinatally develop

chronic HBV infection, as compared

with 30% infected in early childhood

and 6% infected afer 5 years of age.Government of Nepal has already

begun immunization for Hepatitis B

virus, to control liver cancer.

Very litle data is available on cancer in

Nepal. The basis of our understanding

of the cancer problem is provided by the

incidence and mortality data generated

by cancer registries. Most of the data

are from Hospital based studies, and

international studies. Much is to be

done, and Richa Foundation sees itselfcontributing to this need in the near

future.


7/8


Cancer is the oldest disease prevalent

and affecting existence from early

stages of the world, which has crossed

the limitation and is established as a

responsible factor for death of millions ofpeople throughout the world. Nepal has

been affected from the very beginning,

where more than 50 thousand people

have already lost their lives. And still it

isnt a burning issue in our country. What

else is our government for? If a criminal

is murdered in the prison, it would be a

national issue. Here, thousands of people

are dying every year due to cancer. Why

has there been no action taken so far?

In spite of the growth of healthinstitutions in our country the situation

is geting worse. However, now the

hospitals are in the condition to offer

modern and advanced treatments (but

still, only in the major cities) to cancer

patient such as; radiation therapy,

surgical modalities, chemotherapy etc.

which was not possible a few years

ago. And still the cancer patients die

due to lack of treatment availability

throughout the nation. The prime

reason behind this is the progress toadvanced stages of cancer which is the

resonance of lack of preventive and

therapeutic health services nationwide.

If the health ministry puts forward

provision and projects for prevention

and early detection, the condition could

be brought to control. But, our country

is failing to put forth adequately, such

measures.

The Richa Bajimaya Memorial

Foundation (RBMF) was establishedwith an energetic force and with the

combined effort from personalities of

various professional backgrounds such

as engineers, doctors, media and many

more. Despite the explosive growth of

the communication arena, which has

resulted in more than 22 channels, 529

cables and 4871 print media available

in local, national and international

languages, they arent being mobilized

properly for awareness programs around

the nation. With this in mind, RBMF

in Nepal has always been focused on

face to face awareness and interaction

programs, holding screening camps,

promoting healthy living and other

programs intended to motivate our

society in the three highly populateddistricts of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur &

Lalitpur. Their prime concern being to

change the view of the people towards

cancer, cancer patients and also on

mobilizing the youth against cancer.

If we unfold the official data file from

the past till now, we can clearly realize

the outcome of the effort of RBMF,

making people aware of their health

status with regular checkups. This

organization is able to bring certainchanges which are clearly visible. But

still, more effort is required for their

program to reach a wider population

and for this our government has to play

a vital role to completely eradicate the

disease like cancer.

Richa foundation is a very open

place to work and it provides a good

opportunity to share and apply your

raw ideas and replicate it into effective

things that can be helpful towards yourprofessional development. Working on

the issues relating to cancer was a really

good experience to develop oneself.

Today, cancer and its relating factor

are not new to me. I had developed a

clear vision about it, and was also able

to contribute knowledge about cancer

towards society during my trainingperiod and it continues up till today. This

is only due to Richa foundation and its

open environment and I must thank Dr.

Deepak Shrestha, Biraj Chhetri, Jeevan

Shrestha and Sajani manandhar whose

motivation and support towards my

effort was remarkable.

Here are some of the trainees and

ex-trainees views towards the

organization:

If an individual get a chance to work

on his/her own choice then s/he can

give 100% effort towards it. This was

the environment that I got and must be

thankful towards it.- Anil Dhital

It was my golden opportunity to

be associated with RBMF for the

eradication of cancer. Wherever I will be

I will always be beside of organization

and its goal.- Ganju

OFF COURSE! Cancer Has Answers

Never , Never, Never Give Up.....

Asmit Kunwar

From a trainees pen - Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation

Ashmit Kunwar

Candle walk and lighting program on World Cancer day 2012


8/8


Pink is for Power -Dr. Aditi GiriWith an upsurge ofcancercases all around

the world, no other cancer registers a

sense of catastrophe and fear than breast

cancer for women. It is the most common

invasive cancer in women everywhere. It

rears its ugly head from time to time in

all our lives, as we hear of our mothers,

sisters, aunts, friends falling victim to it-

a testament to how common this cancer

is in Nepal. But like all enemies, it too

generates solidarity among sufferers andenables the formation of a formidable

opposition- the support system of human

connections, reinforced by the strength of

knowledge.

It has been known for a long time that

early detection is our chief defense

against breast cancer. If caught early,

the prognosis is far beter than catching

it too late. This means that decreasing

the damage due to breast cancer does

not require expensive equipment or

medication. Instead, knowledge is the

weapon of choice. For this reason, a

whole month out of a year is dedicated

to raising awareness on breast cancer. We

celebrate October as the Breast Cancer

Awareness Month and use it to reach out

to all women, for all women are at risk.

Every woman should be aware of what

aspect of her life may put her at greaterrisk of acquiring breast cancer and how

it can be detected in the earliest stages.

The Richa Foundations breast cancer

awareness programs aim at spreading all

this knowledge among Nepali women.

As a symbol of awareness and solidarity,

we use the international symbol of unison

against breast cancer- the pink ribbon.

Every woman has her own way of

dealing with the diagnosis of breast

cancer. It depends on her age, values

and the response of people around

her. It deals with issues of body image,

the uncertainty of treatment and the

obvious threat to life. In any case, there

is severe psychological strain associated.

Addressing this aspect of the disease is

just as important as the other medical

interventions. Most hospitals abroad

have breast cancer support groups. We

dont see that in Nepal. The Foundation,

thus, has taken initiative to create a basis

for a support group. In a country where

family means everything, support groups

are easily made and rapport is stronglyforged. A robust support group system

goes a long way in improving quality of

life for sufferers as well as survivors.

Societal norms and traditions are deep

rooted in Nepali society and have

bearing on how we view breast cancer.

Our breast cancer spokesperson and

survivor, Mrs. Sushma Lily Maharjan,

expresses deep remorse every time

she talks about the reactions she got

for her diagnosis. People would pointthe blame finger at her and say that

she must have done something to

bring this upon her. This, added to

the grave emotional ramifications of

the diagnosis itself caused her to lose

ground in her batle against the cancer.

But she quickly regained advantage

with the help of dedicated doctors and

a support system of family and she

eventually won over her enemy. She

continues to be a source of inspiration

to every woman she connects with.We are proud to be associated with a

woman of such strength. The Richa

Foundation is united against breast

cancer. For us, pink is for power!

Chabahil, Kathmandu, NepalTel/Fax +977-01-4484691

[email protected]

P.O.Box No.:23112

Felicitating our first honorary member, Prof. Dr. Anjani

Kumar Sharma, a pioneer in the field of cancer in Nepal

Lets see Cancer in Green - the color of life and a new state of

balance - Concept Launch by Mr. Diwakar Rajkarnikar, honorary

member, Richa Bajimaya Memorial Foundation

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richa foundation newsletter issue 1

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