To spread awareness on Cancer and its root causes, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran organized a two days awareness camp, rally and a seminar. Free medical check up camp was organised at Gurudwara Sahib, Palsora village, Chandigarh in collaboration with MAX Health-care Mohali. Over 200 patients were examined, facilities like free blood pressure check up, free ECG, Blood sugar & consultation by cardiologists and cancer specialists were also provided. A rally was also held to raise awareness among general public regarding the major causes of cancer like smoking, alcohol intake, tobacco consumption, lack of exercise etc that lead to serious problems.The speaker at the seminar, Dr. Atul Sachdeva, Principal Director at Govt. Medical College and Hospital Sector 32 Chandigarh, said ‘UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) had started to celebrate 4th of Feb from 2008 as the World Cancer Day to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing government and individuals across the world to take action against the disease. 8.2 Million People die by suffering from cancer every year with 4 million people are between the age gaps of 30 to 70. Tobacco, Alcohol and smoking are the root causes of cancer majorly.’
Dr. Deepak Puri, Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgeon (CTVS) was another speaker at the seminar who said, in our country with 1.3 Billion people there are only 15,000 doctors only and merely 300 radiotherapy machines. The government needs to take some serious measure on these facts and figures. He highlighted that, “Drinking enough water and soaking sunlight can be two essential and easily available ingredients that enhance the immunity against chronic diseases like Cancer, Cardiovascular and Diabetes.While Dr. Vinod Sachdeva from Max Health Super Specialty Hospital quoted, ‘as per the statistics of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) the number of cancer patients will reach to 17 lakh by 2020. We need to change our lifestyles and must be proactive to fight against these diseases. He said, “World is shifting towards vegetarianism and reducing alcohol intake which is the simplest and preferred lifestyle change to lower the risk factors against these chronic diseases”. Chairman Satnam Singh Sandhu, President Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal CGC, Landran thanked the biotech dept for organizing an awareness camp and seminar and said, ‘Punjab is a rich state and to see it wither away would be a nightmare. A train called as the ‘Cancer Train’ leaves from the malwa belt everyday to Rajasthan that is filled with patients suffering from cancer. In Punjab, Pesticides used on vegetables, junk food, burning away of fields after the crops have been cut has led to a greater number of suffers in the state. We want to give happiness to those who suffer from cancer, and as the selfie trend goes, I would like each one of you sitting here to post selfies with those who suffer, to make them feel good about themselves.’