Kerala Campaign Against Cancer

Kerala Campaign Against Cancer – a comprehensive Rs 10 crore programme aimed at tackling the increasing incidence of cancer in the Kerala state through cancer awareness creation and prevention, was launched on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who launched the state-wide cancer awareness campaign, said that it was high time that the people were made more aware of  the deadly disease. The government will always extend full support to the project.

Pointing out that modern treatment facilities and detection facilities were now available, Chandy said that the people should also be made aware of the new facilities.  Health Minister V S Sivakumar said that the comprehensive programme was being launched at a time when there was a great concern over the increasing incidence of cancer in the state.

If the disease was detected in the early stages, it is 90 per cent curable and the programme is aimed at achieving this.

The Health Department is implementing the project with the cooperation of the Local Self Governments, Regional Cancer Centre and the National Rural  Health Mission.

Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar, his senior Cabinet colleagues, and a host of Health officials were present on the occasion.

Earlier, a World Cancer Day badge was released by Speaker G. Karthikeyan in his chamber by pinning it on the Chief Minister.

Mr. Karthikeyan said the morbidity and mortality of cancer could be considerably reduced by focussing on its early detection and treatment.

Cancer day badges were distributed to all MLAs, who wore it through the day.

A door-to-door survey will also be conducted to detect the stages of cancer. Breast cancer, ovarian cancer and oral cancer are the three most common cases found in Kerala. If detected at the initial stage, these cancers can be completely cured. Hence the new scheme will focus on this.


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