NAHARLAGUN, Aug 04:Minister for Health & Family Welfare Alo Libang flagged off three mobile Cancer screening vans at the state Nursing College here on Friday.
While speaking to the reporters’ Minister said that the department has provided three mobile Cancer screening vans for the eastern, central, and western parts of the state, and simultaneously more such vehicles will be provided for the entire districts.
Besides, detecting Cancer, the two doctors provided in the vehicle will also detect other diseases. The two chambers in the vehicle will accommodate one doctor and a nurse with the facilities for blood tests, endoscopy, and ultrasounds., he added.
“The Cancer ratio is increasing day by day in the state. The effort is to detect Cancer in the early stage and avoid late detection. The vehicle will be touring entire districts and provide free cost tests for Cancer and other diseases,” he said, adding that vehicle will be parked in district hospitals.
Libang also informed that the state has a single tertiary cancer center. And to ensure every cancer patient from the state is provided high-tech and instant treatment, the department is also working on the creation of a state cancer hospital.
On the sideline, Libang said that the Nursing College was shifted in the year 2014 when it lacked basic amenities. However, today the college is well renovated and the students don’t face many problems. Besides, the construction work is in progress for the new college building; hopefully, it will be completed at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the state nodal officer (SNO) of the Cancer Control Programme, Dr Sam Tseriing said that the cancer incidents and the patents of it are very different and high as compared to other states in the country. 40% of cancer among males and around 23% are caused due to stomach and liver cancer leading to higher cancer design.
Therefore, concerned about the increase in cancer, and the late diagnosis of it, the effort of the department is for early detection. The best suitable method is ultrasound and endoscopy; hence the mobile Cancer screening vehicle is equipped with these facilities.
“Not only stomach cancer but other health issues in the gallbladder, liver, kidney, and ovary will be detected through ultrasound. By the endoscopy, the doctors will detect problems in the throat and food pipe, etc. Overall, the screening vehicle will be helpful,” he said.
He said one of the vehicles will remain in Papumpare, the other in East Siang, and the last in Tirap district. Papumpare and East Siang district is where most of the cancer is detected while Tirap lacks proper detection equipment, hence one for the district.