NEC-DAE-Dispur pact extended

GUWAHATI, Jan 25: The Board of the Directors of Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute at a meeting held at New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union DoNER Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh decided to extend the present tripartite agreement with NEC, DAE and the Government of Assam for a period of one year with effect from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 with a total fincial outlay of Rs 65.65 crore. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ram Muivah, Secretary, North Eastern Council, Stephen Mervin Alexander, Joint Secretary (A&A), Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and Mukul Gogoi, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Assam in presence of Dr. R.A. Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Mr. vdeep Rinwa, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Dr. Harmeet Singh, Director (NEC), DoNER, Dr. A.C. Kataki, Director, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute and other officials. The DoNER Minister stated that Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute would be developed as a Centre of Excellence for cancer treatment, education and research under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India very soon. He laid emphasis on prevention and early detection of curable cancers through community oncology programme. He further stated that epidemiological studies should be undertaken to identify other surrogates for oral cancer in addition to tobacco consumption. Dr R A Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre highlighted high incidence of gall bladder, liver, oesophageal and sopharyngeal cancer in the North Eastern Region.