Shillong: Civil Hospital, Shillong and State Cancer Society, Meghalaya celebrated National Cancer Survivors Day at the DAE-Civil Hospital Cancer Wing on June 12. This event honours the strength and resilience of cancer survivors. And raises awareness about the ongoing battle against cancer in the region.
Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh in her keynote address stated that the government is committed to ensuring that people are provided with the best possible treatment for cancer and is working towards bringing the latest medical equipment and facilities to every district of the state. “We have a long journey ahead, we shall not stop, we shall not say that we have done it all. Together this government will serve the people. It is not individuals, or ministers or any other doctor or staff, but together we will fight this.”
Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary for the Department of Health & Family Welfare said “By listening to our cancer survivors, it gives us a lot of hope, that if detected early, we can actually cure cancer. The key message here is that awareness is very important.” The cancer wing of Civil Hospital, Shillong provides care for more than 7000-8000 patients every year. This is a massive effort done by the government. Most of the budgetary expenditure that Meghalaya is spending, which is almost close to 9 per cent of the state budget is on health care.
Dr F.V. Kharshiing, Director, of Health Services (MI), while emphasizing the importance of continued support for cancer patients and the importance of combined efforts said, “From shared experiences, we’ve learned that power to combat cancer lies within our heart and our souls. It’s about maintaining a positive mindset, believing in our ability to overcome challenges, and spreading awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention.”
The National Cancer Survivors Day program also saw testimonies given by cancer survivors. One of the cancer survivors stated that she is thankful to the doctors and healthcare providers at Civil Hospital, Shillong who provided her with the best treatment. She urged everyone to not be afraid but to make the best possible use of the early screening and treatment facilities that are being provided.
