The newly elected government led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday proposed to set up a state-of-the-art cancer care centre in Shillong with a plan to make it a hub for the entire north-eastern region.
This was informed by Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Pravin Bakshi while speaking as the chief guest at a cancer awareness programme held at Shillong Commerce College on Tuesday.
Bakshi further pointed out that non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer are significantly rising across the country, especially in the North-east.
He added that the Centre plans to designate health sub-centres as health and wellness centres by 2022.
Meanwhile, Caleb Harris, Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) said that oesophageal (food pipe) cancer is the common type of cancer in Meghalaya as majority of the population in the hill state consume tobacco, alcohol and betelnut.
Harris further added that the dreaded disease could be fate or choice. “The best thing is to prevent it by taking some care with habits.
As per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016-17, 47 per cent of all adults in Meghalaya either smoke tobacco or use smokeless tobacco, whereas national average is 28.6 per cent.
A ‘Run and Ride Against Cancer’ was also organized by Tata Trusts and Cachar Cancer Hospital in 10 cities in the North East.
The bikers will cover 2,100 km.