In a major milestone in the health history of J&K, a team of oncologists Monday conducted cancer surgeries for the first time in South Kashmir at Islamabad district hospital.A team of eight oncology surgeons from SKIMS Soura, headed by HoD Oncology Dr Altaf Haji, arrived in the district hospital and conducted five cancer surgeries that included two breast cancers, and one each of thyroid, intestinal and piratical cancer patients.This is being done under the guidance of Director Health services Kashmir and Oncology department of SKIMS, to reach such patients at district levels.“Highly professional and experienced doctors will operate at the district hospitals so that patients receive care at the doorsteps,” said Director Health services Kashmir, Dr Saleem ur Rehman.
“Moreover, by this initiative, surgeons in these hospitals will get additional training.”The team of doctors earlier visited North Kashmir districts of Handwara and Baramulla.By such an initiative, months of time of patients has been saved, an official said.Nusrat Jan, a 34-year-old breast cancer patient, was earlier in August operated at District hospital Baramulla. “It would have taken us months had we waited for our date in SKIMS Soura. She was taken to Baramulla hospital and operated upon there,” said her sister.“This is not less than an innovation for our hospital as our surgeons are getting first-hand experience from the renewed doctors,” said Dr Majeed Mehrab, Medical superintendent District hospital Islamabad.“This will continue in future as well as part of the program to provide treatment at doorsteps for the patients of cancer who have to suffer otherwise by waiting for months together in Srinagar or other places outside state,” he said. (CNS)