Despite the fact that at least 1,100
persons have died of cancer in Muktsar district alone in the past 10
years and the disease is spreading its tentacles at an alarming pace,
the health authorities have not planned any awareness camps for the
World Cancer Day tomorrow.
The poor and rich both have been afflicted by the deadly disease. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal lost his wife Surinder Kaur to cancer last year. Former CM Harcharan Singh Brar’s son Kanwarjit Singh Brar “Sunny”, MLA Muktsar, is also reportedly suffering from the disease.
Though doctors claim that cancer is curable, if detected early stage, the government has neither the equipment to conduct tests nor any specialists in the countryside to advise patients. People are forced to go to Bikaner (Rajasthan) or some other metro city for diagnosis.
Surveys by NGOs show that villages in the Gidderbaha, Lambi and Muktsar subdivisions are highly prone to the disease with at least one cancer patient in each household.
Dr Gurdeep Singh, Muktsar CMO said: “We are busy dealing with routine indoor and outdoor patients. So, we are not holding any cancer awareness camp tomorrow.
“We neither have a specialist nor the equipment to detect cancer cases. Whosoever comes to us, we refer him/her to hospitals in Faridkot, Ludhiana or Chandigarh.”
Asked when a cancer awareness camp was held last, Dr Gurdeep said: “It was in Badal village in October last year.” Cancer patients from poor families lamented that government aid was not reaching them in time. “Also, only a few NGOs like Roko Cancer are providing us help,” they said.
Kulwant Dhaliwal, global ambassador, Roko Cancer, said: “We have been holding medical camps in 17 countries, including India. But, here in Punjab, the awareness level on cancer is almost zero, which is the main reason for the increasing number of cancer cases here.
“As the government has failed to spread awareness among the people, the disease has now spread to the Doaba belt too.”
World Cancer Day Today
n The Gidderbaha, Lambi and Muktsar subdivisions are highly prone to the disease with at least one cancer patient in each household
n Cancer awareness camp was held last in Badal village in October last year, says Muktsar Chief Medical Officer
n Poor families lament that the government aid is not reaching them in time
The poor and rich both have been afflicted by the deadly disease. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal lost his wife Surinder Kaur to cancer last year. Former CM Harcharan Singh Brar’s son Kanwarjit Singh Brar “Sunny”, MLA Muktsar, is also reportedly suffering from the disease.
Though doctors claim that cancer is curable, if detected early stage, the government has neither the equipment to conduct tests nor any specialists in the countryside to advise patients. People are forced to go to Bikaner (Rajasthan) or some other metro city for diagnosis.
Surveys by NGOs show that villages in the Gidderbaha, Lambi and Muktsar subdivisions are highly prone to the disease with at least one cancer patient in each household.
Dr Gurdeep Singh, Muktsar CMO said: “We are busy dealing with routine indoor and outdoor patients. So, we are not holding any cancer awareness camp tomorrow.
“We neither have a specialist nor the equipment to detect cancer cases. Whosoever comes to us, we refer him/her to hospitals in Faridkot, Ludhiana or Chandigarh.”
Asked when a cancer awareness camp was held last, Dr Gurdeep said: “It was in Badal village in October last year.” Cancer patients from poor families lamented that government aid was not reaching them in time. “Also, only a few NGOs like Roko Cancer are providing us help,” they said.
Kulwant Dhaliwal, global ambassador, Roko Cancer, said: “We have been holding medical camps in 17 countries, including India. But, here in Punjab, the awareness level on cancer is almost zero, which is the main reason for the increasing number of cancer cases here.
“As the government has failed to spread awareness among the people, the disease has now spread to the Doaba belt too.”
World Cancer Day Today
n The Gidderbaha, Lambi and Muktsar subdivisions are highly prone to the disease with at least one cancer patient in each household
n Cancer awareness camp was held last in Badal village in October last year, says Muktsar Chief Medical Officer
n Poor families lament that the government aid is not reaching them in time
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