Observing September as ‘Childhood Cancer Month’ to make people aware of the fact that childhood cancers are curable: Brahm Mohindra
Patiala, September 15, 2017: The Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra today announced to extend cashless cancer treatment for the children at the 18 empanelled hospitals during state level workshop on ‘paediatric oncology stakeholder sensitization’ for the stakeholder, Medical Officers and ANMs held at Patiala.
Addressing keynote today on the occasion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that state government is committed to provide tertiary health services to each and every child of state suffering from cancer. Today making a new exclusive beginning to ensure health security of children across the state, the Punjab Government has commenced first of its kind ever special awareness programme for children suffering from cancer.
He said that earlier, there is not much emphasis on childhood cancers, every year nearly 2,50,000 children suffer from cancer all over the world and almost 90,000 of them are likely to die. About 40 to 50,000 new cases of childhood cancers detected every year in India. He said that due to inadequate facilities for detection and treatment the mortality rate is very high. However, if it is detected early and provided timely treatment to children suffering from cancer, they can live a normal life like other children.
Mr. Mohindra said that observing September as ‘Childhood Cancer Month’ state government seeks to make people aware of the fact that childhood cancers are curable. He said that we already implemented the plan to strengthen the Rajindra Medical College and Hospital Patiala, Government Medical College and hospital Amritsar and cancer hospitals to provide the quality tertiary health services to the affected children.
Health Minister said that keeping in view, the process of tracking and follow up of the cancer patients at primary and secondary level, health department is also being imparted special training to MOs (Medical Officers), staff nurses and ANMs ( Auxiliary Nurse mid wife) to conduct tests concerning to cancers, especially of children and women under the cancer campaign in rural areas of the state. He said that state government has taken major initiative in this regard.
On this occasion, the Medical Education and Research Department has also signed MoU with Cankids in the presence of Mr. Vikas Partap Secretary Medical Educaton and Ms Poonam Bagai, Founder Chairman, Cankids, Treasure and Board Member, CCI. Health Minister said that Cankids is recognised organisation dedicated to the care of children suffering from cancers and provide facilities and adequate treatment to children. He said that we assure all stakeholder that Punjab Government would facilitate all support for their noble cause. He said that Cankids is also going to initiate awareness crusade about childhood cancer by organising a car rally across the Punjab during the next week.
Mrs Anjali Bhanwra Principal Secretary Health said that we still necessitate more and more screening and awareness programme to cover up the total population of the state and we all know early detection of cancer is a single life line. He said that now, health department and Cankids would jointly run the campaign to identify the cancer patient and provide easily access of health services.
The workshop had participation of experts from, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, DMC Ludhiana, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital Sangrur, Oswal Cancer Hospital Ludhiana, ACDTRC Bathinda, PGI Chandigarh and State Medical Colleges.
The prominent who were present on the occasion included, Mr. Rajiv Bhalla Director Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Scott Howard Pidiatric Hematoligist- Oncologist, Mrs. Sonal Sharma co-founder Cankids, Dr. Amita Mahajan Board Member and chair to medical advisory Cankids, Dr.Shruti Kakkar DMC, Dr.VK Kaushal, Dr. Joseph John CMC, Medical Officers, ANMs and other senior officers of health department and Medical Education.