Kathmandu- Two persons who served from the forefront against COVID-19 have received the ‘Madan Bhandari National Award, 2077’.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli handed the award to Sunita Sahakari, a staff nurse by profession, and, Bam Bahadur Gurung, an ambulance driver, amid a function organised at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar.
The Madan Bhandari Foundation organised the event on the occasion of the 70th Birth Anniversary of people’s leader Madan Kumar Bhandari. The award carries a purse of Rs 100,000 each. Sahakari is serving the Bheri Hospital and Gurung drives an ambulance belonging to Nepal Ambulance Service, Kathmandu. Both Sahakari and Gurung were honoured for their contributions to a fight against the infection risking their lives, said the Foundation’s secretary Pemba Lama.
An award selection committee was formed under the chairpersonship of human rights activist Sushil Pyakurel.
Earlier, noted comedians Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bamsha Acharya, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Bhagawan Koirala, social entrepreneur Mahabir Pun, Prof Dr Subodh Sharma, Martyr Park Hetauda and the Dhurmus Suntali Foundation have so far bagged the award.
Similarly on the occasion, three competitors winning a nation-wide open essay competition were honoured. The competition was held on the theme ‘Nepal’s Constitution and People’s Leader Bhandari’. Winner Durga Poudel of Kaski, who stood first in the competition received Rs 15,000, first runner-up Prakash Pakuwal of Dolakha Rs 10,000 and second runner-up Basanta Singh Thagunna of Darchula Rs 5,000.
