Nurses’ training for detection of common cancers underway at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI)

GUWAHATI: A 14-day training programme on early detection of common cancers with a special focus on visual inspection using acetic acid for staff nurses working at various government health centers has been started at Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) from Monday.

According to a press release, the training program has been organized by the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam in collaboration with the Department of Preventive Oncology at BBCI and the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF). The staff nurses from five districts – Kamrup, Barpeta, Nagaon, Jorhat, and Dibrugarh – are participating in the training. The training programme was formally inaugurated by Dr Amal Chandra Kataki, Director, BBCI. Mr. Dipanjal Konwar, Director-HR of ACCF and Dr Rahul Kumar Sarmah, State Programme Officer, NCD cell of NHM were also present during the inaugural session. In the inaugural session of the training, Dr. Kataki briefed risk factors and symptoms associated with common cancers and their methods of early detection. He further stated that this cancer can be detected at peripheral health institutes at the early stages by applying simple tests and doing plain examination. Dr Kataki also mentioned the benefits of practical session which is incorporated in this training programme. Dr Srabana Misra Bhagabaty, an associate professor-cum-in-charge of Preventive Oncology Department at BBCI said that this training program me with approval from BBCI Academia will continue to train staff nurses under the same initiative in the coming months and this initiative will facilitate the community reach out for cancer prevention and control.