Cancer on rise in J

Srinagar, Nov 3 (UNI) Expressing concern over growing cancer disease in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha said a prestigious Medical Institute of Excellence was being set up by the Shiv Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board at Katra to render service to the needy.

The Rs 100 crore cancer hospital would be fully funded by the Board without any assistance from Central and State government or any other organization, he declared at an International Conference on Medical Physics at Sher Kashmir International Convention Complex here.

Quoting statistics he said, 1128 new cases were identified from April to October this year, which was alarming and medical professionals should try to meet the challenge.

However, he said detection of the disease at primary stage can save lives and therefore awareness about the disease was also imperative.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress that has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of Cancer, he said still much was required to be done. In this context, the deliberations at the conference would held in formulating effective strategy to combat cancer.

250 Scientists and doctors, who are involved in the treatment of cancer abroad and prestigious institutes of the country are attending the conference, held in Kashmir after 24 years.

Professor Abdul Hamid Zargar, Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar emphasised the need of Medical Physics for a most modern cancer centre in the state.

He also emphasised the importance of Radiation Protection in a tertiary care hospital where sealed and unsealed radio-active material were used for patient diagnosis and care.

He emphasised the augmentation of equipment in Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy departments of SKIMS, Srinagar. He also mentioned there is dire necessity for a Nuclear Medicine department in Government Medical College, Srinagar and in Government Medical College, Jammu.

The urgency of having a National Institute of Radiation Sciences on the pattern of International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy was also emphasised by him.

The Association will also try to get the finance for these projects from National and International funding agencies.

On this occasion Mr Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo, Editor and Patron, Greater Kashmir, Srinagar was felicitated by Governor for his contribution in spreading cancer awareness program in the valley, on behalf of Association of Medical Physicists of India.

UNI