World cancer day observed in Quetta

QUETTA: Health experts and senior doctors Saturday said that the role of stakeholders, doctors, representative of NGOs and society members was important to prevent and cure cancer diseases in the province.

They expressed these views while speaking at ceremony of World Cancer Day which was organized by Department of Radiotherapy/Oncology Bolan Medical Complex Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) Hospital, Principle, Professor Dr, Shabir Ahmed Lehri said that collective efforts should be adopted for prevention of cancer disease, which was spreading in society, especially in rural areas of the district.

He said that reportedly women were facing breast cancer in the province because there was no cancer hospital in Balochistan.

Dr. Shabir Leheri regretted that there was only one ward in BMC hospital which only comprised 14 beds for 3 million of population, adding that stakeholders should cooperate with doctors in order to build the cancer hospital to decrease such dangerous disease in the province.

Head of Department of Radiotherapy/Oncology Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Professor, Dr, Zahid Mahmood briefed the participants about cancer.

He said in Pakistan annually about 148,000 people were being diagnosed as new cases of cancer and almost 100,000 citizens die, adding that most common types of cancer were oral, lungs liver, cervical, breast and blood.

He said prevention is better than cure and urged citizens to avoid using of tobacco including cigarette, cigar, shisha, huqa, niswar, pan gutka, challiya and supari which are main reason of cancer and other ailments, advising them to exercise 30 minutes daily to save themselves from cancer disease.

Dr, Zahid Mehmood demanded federal and provincial government to take measures for establishing proper cancer hospital in Balochistan because there was no cancer hospital in province and only one ward for such patients in BMC hospital Quetta. “The cancer budget is only 600,000 in Balochistan”, Dr, Zahid added.

On the occasion, Suria Allauddin said that cancer could be controlled diseases in province through resources and collective efforts, adding that everybody have responsible to play their vital role against such diseases.

She said, "We are going to start campaign in schools, colleges, and universities level against cancer to create awareness among students about it."

BMC, Surgeon, Dr, Muhammad Azam Mangl, Radiology, Dr, Muhammad Ashraf Achakzai, Dr, Ghulam Rasool, Dr Babar Khan and other doctors were also present in the event.