Bathinda, November 9A two-day survey of Bathinda and Muktsar, the cancer-affected districts of the state, by a team comprising Neeta Kang, head of innovation department, the Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Ludhiana, and M.S. Kang, vice-chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) along with sub-ordinates has once again provided a ray of hope to the residents of the cancer-prone Malwa belt.
Neeta, who is PhD in molecular evolution and systematics, along with her husband M.S. Kang visited Jajjal, Gyana, Husnar, Kotbhai and Bhuttiwala villages. The team, which reportedly came on the personal request of finance minister Manpreet Badal, interacted with a number of cancer-affected patients and their families.
During visit to Jajjal and Gyana villages of Bathinda district, the team had to face rude attitude of the villagers as they alleged that despite a number of surveys nothing had been done so far.
An old woman in Jajjal requested the team to leave the villagers on their own saying, "The names of these villages had been so much highlighted that it has become difficult to marry the boys and girls of the village.
However, in villages of Gidderbaha tehsil, the villagers gathered to narrate their woes to the team members. A daily-wage labourer Paramjeet Kaur of village Kotbhai, whose father-in-law, sister-in-law and a 14-year-old son died of cancer, told the team members that her husband too was infected with the same disease.
Many patients said they had been travelling through the "cancer train" to get medicine from Bikaner. Some of them said the treatment of the disease was so expensive that they were finding themselves under the burden of huge debts.
Finding cancer patients in large number, team members expressing concern said it seemed as if the whole area was affected with cancer. They cited non-availability of balanced diet, contaminated water, lack of health facilities and some other issues as reasons.
Talking to TNS, Neeta and M.S. Kang said, "The area needs an intensive awareness campaign. Though people here were afflicted with the disease they don’t care to get themselves diagnosed." They added, "The matter would be taken up to the authorities of CMCH to chalk out a strategy."
Later, the team held a discussion with Manpreet to apprise him of the survey. He assured them of lending his full cooperation to check the menace.
Replying to a query, Manpreet said, "No doubt, a number of surveys had already been conducted, but still a lot of efforts are required." He added, "We are ready to set up a cancer hospital in this area but the basic problem would be of the skilled faculty to run the same."
About the complaints of "too late too less" help from the government to cancer patients and their families, Manpreet said the funds for such a cause lied with the chief minister.
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