GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi said that the Southeast Asian Region is going through a demographic as well as rapid urbanization and accelerated lifestyle changes. All of these are contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including cancer. Guwahati being the Gateway to the South East Asian nations, is also witnessing growing instances of cancer.
Speaking at the golden jubilee year celebrations of Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute here on Friday, the Governor said that in view of the increasing cases of cancer being reported in the region, Guwahati should have sound cancer care infrastructure to treat the people of entire Northeast and ASEAN countries. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute can truly take the lead in the management of cancer treatment by adopting latest technologies and best global practices. He said that he was happy to see this institute had really stepped up its efforts in taking up the challenges of cancer care.
The Governor said that though unabated spread of cancer continues to be a matter of great concern for everyone, of late, the government took several programmes at the national and state levels aimed at preventive, curative and palliative care of cancer.
Prof Mukhi said that Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute, with its dedicated team of doctors, researchers and paramedics, is providing quality cancer care to the people. In Assam, about 34,000 new cancer patients are detected every year. Unfortunately, due to lack of awareness, poverty, fear and myths associated with cancer, almost two-third of the patients present themselves at advanced stage. He, therefore, reiterated on the improved literacy, greater consciousness about health in general and awareness about cancer in particular to report cases of suspected cancer cases at an early stage. He said that along with clinical care to the cancer cases, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute should step up its efforts to generate widespread awareness about cancer.
The Governor also said that human resource generation in Oncology is an area which needs urgent attention. He said that he was happy to learn that Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute has started various post-graduate and super specialty courses in oncology and M.Sc in Oncology Nursing and Medical Physics to augment human resources. Moreover, Assam Cancer Care Foundation is a joint partnership between the Government of Assam and Tata Trusts to create three-level cancer grid in the state for the cancer patients
Former Governor of Meghalaya,RS Mooshahary, Secretary, North Eastern Council Shillong, K Moses Chalai, Vice-Chancellor of Assam Science and Technology University, Prof. Narendra S Chaudhari, Director of DrBBCI, Dr AC Kataki, along with a host of other dignitaries were present in the function.