Chandigarh-The department of Health and Family Welfare Punjab launched a new initiative to screen patients for oral cancer in public health institutions.A training session was organised at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration Chandigarh comprising Dental Doctors and ENT surgeons.The training program was inaugurated by the Secretary Health cum Mission Director NHM Dr. Abhinav Trikha along with Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Adarshpal Kaur, Director Health Services (FW) Dr. Ravinder Pal Kaur and Director NHM Dr. S.P. Singh.
Informing about this new initiative Dr. Abhinav Trikha said as all of us know, Oral cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men in our country and It is estimated that by 2030, an estimated 49, 750 new cases of oral cancer will be diagnosed each year in the country.Keeping in view these alarming figures, a need was felt to strengthen the public health cadre in the state for early screening and detection as well as timely referral of patients suffering from pre- cancerous lesions or frank oral cancer. "Another factor in conceiving this program is that 80 percent of the cancer cases are detected at the second or third stage when it is difficult to cure cancer, therefore detecting oral cancer at the first stage can definitely prove to be a boon in cancer cure." he added.
In his concluding remarks Dr. Trikha exhorted the participants to contribute positively in this new initiative and he hopes that in the near future it will definitely achieve meaningful results and reduce the rate of oral cancer in Punjab and prevent deaths due to it. He also appealed to all the people of Punjab to give up alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and take steps towards a healthy life to create a healthy society.
Dr. Adarshpal Kaur in her address on the occasion said Alcohol and tobacco use are among the leading causes of oral cancer. In this program steps will be taken for timely screening by the participants, but also other staff members of the department will also be trained in the near future and the general public will be made aware against alcohol and tobacco addiction.
Dr. Saikat Chakraborty MDS, Dr. Sumit Gupta consultant Surgical Oncology DMCH, Dr. Anand Gupta Associate Professor GMCH-32, Dr. Navjot Kaur Assistant Professor ENT AIIMS Mohali were the keynote speakers who trained in detail regarding oral cancer screening as well as about the causative factors.