GUWAHATI: Indus Towers, in association with the Government of Assam and the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), has launched a large-scale Cancer Care Programme that would be rolled out across nine districts of the state, namely Jorhat, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Udalguri, Sivasagar, and Baksa.
A 2021 report by ICMR highlights that Assam has a higher cancer incidence of 114 per lakh population against the national average of 97. Shockingly, 70% of cases in the state are diagnosed when the disease has already reached its advanced stages; this is causing a high level of mortality rate. This therefore calls for critical intervention strategies for effective control and management.
The Cancer Care Program is a more holistic approach for addressing these problems, with more emphasis on the early detection phase, community engagement, and providing support to cancer patients. Door-to-door screening, referrals for health and wellness centers, and specific training will be provided to front-line healthcare providers.
Dentists will undertake oral cancer screenings, while cervical and breast cancer screenings will be undertaken by nurses. Furthermore, awareness campaigns and support services will be instituted with the aim of ensuring the right diagnosis and treatment.
According to Rajender Gurung, Circle CEO of Indus Towers, the initiative will improve access and quality healthcare provided in Assam. Health experts have identified that the program would be able to revolutionize cancer care by encouraging early diagnosis and relieving the tertiary healthcare facilities.
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