Shillong: James P K Sangma, Health & Family Welfare Minister today inaugurated the DAE-Civil Hospital Cancer Wing, Civil Hospital Shillong: OPD Facility/ Indoor Facility & Day Care Facility at the premises of Civil Hospital Shillong.

Speaking at the inauguration programme, Shri James P K Sangma said that the inauguration is a momentous occasion for the state of Meghalaya as it is the 1^st cancer wing in a state run hospital. He expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders who had contributed in making this dream a reality.

He informed that Meghalaya has implemented the First Cancer Care (FCC) Project which will work in tandem with the cancer wing. Cancer treatment takes a very long time, stretches over years, hence a dedicated approach is required, FCC has been brought in order to screen for early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment which will have a huge impact on how the cancer patients are treated thereby increasing the rate of survival of patients, he said.

He also informed that the government is in the process of establishing a similar cancer wing in Tura and hopes that through these initiatives and interventions the state will be able to take care of cancer in a focused manner which will help in combating this disease. This is just the beginning and there are still a lot of things that need to be done, in terms of diagnosis, treatments, post treatment care, etc. The government has also been encouraging a lot of community participation in the fight against cancer, through the village health councils which the state has started and the health councils will play an integral role in reaching out to the rural masses, he said.

During the day the Minister also launched a book titled ‘Meghalaya Mission Cancer Prevention and Early Detection’ which can be downloaded from the official website of the State Cancer Society of Meghalaya.

The programme was also attended by Shri Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Shri Ram Kumar S, Mission Director, NHM, Dr P Kumar, Regional Director, Atomic Mineral Directorate for Exploration and Research, among others.