Expressing concern over increasing rate of cancer patients across the State, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today called for joint fight against the dreaded disease.The Minister was addressing a gathering during commemorating World Cancer Day (WCD) function held at Government Medical College (GMC) here. The Minister called for a sustained state-wide affective awareness campaign through different mediums to educate the common masses, particularly in the rural and far-flung areas about the causes of cancer and preventive measures to reduce its threat.The function was jointly organized by the GMC, Directorate of Health Services, Jammu and National Health Mission. Principal GMC, Dr. Zahid A. Gillani, HoD Oncology Department, Prof. Ashutosh Gupta, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Director Health Services, Dr. Gurjit Singh Soodan, HoD Radiology, Dr. Gansham Gupta, several faculty members, doctors and para-medics were present on the occasion.On the occasion, the Minister felicitated the long surviving cancer patients, who are undergoing treatment in the GMC to encourage their spirit in fighting against the dreaded disease. He also interacted with these patients and enquired about their treatment and facilities available in the GMC.
He called upon the Principal GMC, Mission Director, NHM and Director Health Services to chalk out a joint strategy of annual activities, like awareness camps, screening of patients for early detection of cancer like diseases to be carried out to fight against this dreaded disease. He also called for booking dedicated slots in Doordarshan, Radio/FM/Cable network and news papers for prominently highlighting the cancer, its causes, affects and preventive measures for the education of general masses.Maintaining that Government was according focused attention on this vital area, the Minister said that two provincial level Cancer Institute’s, one each at Kashmir and Jammu have been approved by the Government of India with an estimated cost of Rs. 120 crore on each to help the cancer patients. These institutions will be set up at SKIMS in Kashmir and GMC in Jammu. Similarly, to augment the facilities for the cancer patients at the district level, the Government has also sanctioned three Tertiary Cancer Care Centers at District Hospitals, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Kupwara at a universal cost of Rs. 45 crore each. The process for their establishment has already begun, said the Minister.
Responding on the demand of augmentation of facilities and replacement of equipments in the Oncology Department, the Minister said the Government of India has been approached for allotment of adequate funds for replacement of necessary gadgets for the treatment of cancer patients, till the establishment of proposed Institute. He called upon the faculty of Oncology Department to put in their best efforts to provide necessary succor to the cancer patients with special focus on screening to detect early detection of disease.Earlier, Dr. Ashutosh Gupta gave brief resume of the activities of the department and facilities available for the treatment of the cancer patients. He informed that most of the infrastructure in the department has outlived and needs immediate replacement to improve the patient care and requested personal intervention of the Minister in the matter.Several other speakers also deliberated on the subject and highlighted the root causes of the disease and preventive measures to curb its further spread. Most of the speakers cited the reasons for the cancer as modern life style and eating habits.