Focus on building expertise to tackle disease in the region
SHILLONG: With an aim to equip doctors with the expertise to deal with the menace of cancer in the North Eastern region, Union Minister of DoNER, Jitendra Singh informed that a six months course in cancer surgery and medicine for doctors in North East has been devised in collaboration with Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai.
Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, the Union Minister informed that the first batch of doctors from the North east have already started training under the course from January 1.
“They can come back with expertise in oncology medicine and serve the mission,” he said.
“There will be no financial implications. The DoNER Ministry and the Adyar Cancer Institute will bear expenses of boarding, lodging for six months in Chennai. On the part of the State Government it can grant study leave to the doctors to complete the course,” the Minister added.
Singh, meanwhile, expressed concern over the increase of cancer all over the country, especially in the North East even as he pointed out that cancer of the head, neck and gastro-intestinal parts was on the rise.
However, he appealed to the masses not be alarmed over the disease but try to understand the early symptoms and approach accordingly as cancer is curable if detected early.
He also informed that the cancer campaign launched in Shillong will be carried out in other northeastern states as well with doctors from across the country participating in it.
As for the cancer institute in the North East, he said with the existing Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati, the ministry will supplement it with more doctoral courses and rope in Tata Memorial Cancer Institute to initiate courses.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the Pink Cancer Campaign which kick-started in Shillong on Saturday, Singh expressed hope that there will be a decline in the incidence of the disease in the country.
He observed that it will be a litmus test for the success of the campaign as the objective lies in bringing cancer cases down in the states.
According to him the country has slipped into an era of non-communicable diseases which includes diabetes, heart disease, cancer, metabolic disorder, cancer etc. The Union Minister dwelt at length on the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases as well and expressed concern that it has also affected the younger generation.
“Our orientation towards health care has to change as modes of treatment and spectrum of diseases have changed,” Singh said.
He attributed increase of cancer in the country to factors of longer life span, environment, lifestyle and eating habits.
Towards the end the Minister called for a well driven approach and smooth dissemination of information through various sectors to fight the disease. He also mooted the idea of medical journalism with focus on health communication and awareness.