Hype around cancer must end to help people overcome its fear: Dr Bhagwat

Staff Reporter

“To defeat dreaded disease like cancer, we should defy its fear and stand tall against it. The hype surrounding cancer should go, only then people will stop being afraid of it,” advised Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr Mohan Bhagwat. He was addressing the programme organised on Thursday to dedicate National Cancer Institute (NCI), Jamtha, run by Dr Aabaji Thatte Seva and Anusandhan Sanstha, to the nation.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, industrialist Gautam Adani, Bharatiya Janata Party State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, State Assembly Speaker Adv Rahul Narvekar, President of NCI trust Adv Sunil Manohar, General Secretary and, Chief Executive Officer Shailesh Joglekar were seated on the dais. The programme began with dignitaries lighting the traditional lamp and unveiling the cornerstone in the main building of NCI. Dr Bhagwat further said that the institute came into being to serve people who are suffering. It would keep progressing with the thought of service to human is service to God. People should also come forward and contribute to the institution’s work, he said. Eknath Shinde, appreciated the fine construction and state-of-the-art infrastructure of the institute and expressed satisfaction about the facility. Shinde said that providing quality treatment for diseases such as cancer was a challenge and the Government was working towards making these facilities cost-effective. The Government was also offering relief to distressed patients through schemes like Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Yojana. Shinde said that people who have cancer patients in their families have to spend the earnings of their lifetime. They would now get the same treatment at an effective cost, which would be a great relief to such families, he added.

Deputy CM Fadnavis, in his address stated that the Tata Hospital in Mumbai had been a huge support for cancer patients as it provided good facilities, but due to the increasing number of patients, the hospital was under a lot of pressure. Hence, the National Cancer Institute was established specially for cancer patients across Central India. “In NCI, children would be treated free of cost in the paediatric ward. Efforts are being made to provide advanced therapies such as proton beam and carbon ion therapy at cost-effective rates here,” Fadnavis informed.

Emphasising on the importance of research, Nitin Gadkari said, “Research is the only way to prevent diseases like cancer, and research institutes like NCI will play an important role for a cancer-free India.” Gadkari pointed out that Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, in their past tenures as Chief Minister and Public Works Minister respectively, had gifted Nagpur-Mumbai Samrudddhi Highway to people. And now, they have another gift - NCI - to the people of Maharashtra, adding, “I thank them for this valuable public service.” Gadkari said that efforts should be made to collaborate with international advanced research on cancer to help for treatment in India. He also expected that this institute would also work on research and treatment on thalassemia and sickle cell to benefit the patients of these diseases in East Vidarbha.