From our Correspondent

SILCHAR, Aug 7: A free medical-cum-cancer awareness camp was held at Mankhush tea estate, a outgarden of Dilkhush estate, under Lakhipur constituency, 40 km from here. The camp was organized by Arunoday Sangha, an NGO of the town in coordination with the Sargam Shilpi Sangstha, Fulertol, with the sole objective of reaching not only the necessary medical advice, guidance and help to the poor and needy patients but also to make them aware of the symptoms of the dreaded disease for their better health and long life. Mechanized boat is the sole way to reach the areas around Dilkhush tea estate. The boat takes around 40 minutes from Fulertol ghat.

As a part of its philanthropical mission, the organization has been organizing such camps in the remote villages of Barak Valley for the last few months.

Near about 400 patients of different communities of Hmar, Kuki, Naga and labourers of the garden, in and around Mankhush tea estate were examined and provided treatment as well as necessary medicines in the camp. At the outset, Bikash Chakraborty, president of Arunoday Sangha, explained the purpose of the medical camp and the noble mission. He said since the poor and neglected people of remote villages could not often get proper medical care, attention and treatment, their NGO is doing all that could be possible to give them not only free medicines but also relief.

Dr Ravi Kannan, director, Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Institute said that the treatment of cancer in North east is very expensive, and beyond the reach of weaker sections of people. He underlined the importance of awareness among common people to fight against cancer.

Dr Kannan pointed out, tobacco is the most single risk for cancer. He further said that the consumption of pan masala and gutkha are the two main reasons behind mouth cancer. He added to say that the number of cancer patients in Barak Valley is maximum in comparison to other states of Northeast. He also spoke about the symptoms and causes of cancer and alerted the people to be conscious in order to take precaution and stay fit and healthy.

A total of 29 suspected patients were referred to the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar Redcross Hospital Society and Sundari Mohan Seva Bhawan.

Doctors from Cachar Cancer Hospital, Lakhipur Primary Health Centre and Silchar Medical College and Hospital along with nursing staff who included, Dr Gopal Dutta, Dr Lakkhi Narayan Roy, in-charge Trauma Centre of Medical College, Dr Deepak Dhombra, an eye specialist, Dr Bulbul Hoque, Dr Anup Roy, Kanchan Deb , Fulan Das, Sudip Bhattacharjee, Debobrata Dutta, pharmacist.

However, the villagers alleged that they were deprived of basic amenities from time immemorial. Ananta Chowdhury, a local resident of the area, said, “Even after a few decades of Indian independence, the people here do not have proper roads, pure drinking water, electricity and other facilities. In order to pursue education, primary, middle or beyond, the students of here have to cross the Barak river.” “Hill stream water is the only source of drinking water,” Chowdhury added.