President to inaugruate BHABHATRON-II on Dec 11

Mumbai, Dec 8: President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam will inaugurateBHABHATRON-II, the teletherapy machine developed by Bhabha AtomicResearch Centre (BARC) to treat cancer patients, in a function atIndian Red Cross Society Cancer Hosptial (IRCS) at Nellore in AndhraPradesh on December 11.

BARC spokesperson R K Sharma, in a statement here today said thatthe machine will help treat cancer patients in Nellore and nearbyareas.

Cancer is a major public health problem in the country with 20-25lakh cancer patients in India. Every year over eight lakh new cancercases are detected and more than five lakh deaths occur due to cancer.

India has about 360 radiation therapy machines, located mainly inurban areas. 100 out of 600 districts in the country have radiationtreatment facilities, the statement added.

UNI