Thaindian News

Mumbai, March 31 (IANS) Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari Monday presented the Cancer Aid & Research Foundation (CARF) annual awards to four eminent cancer doctors. The doctors honoured include Ram Mohan Tiwari of Bangalore Institute of Oncology, presented with the Life Time Achievement Award for his services in the field of cancer detection, treatment and cure.

Three city-based doctors were also honoured for their services. These were Nagraj Huilgol of Nanavati Hospital, Jyoti Dabholkar of K.E.M. hospital and Mohan Jagde of J.J. hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Governor S.C. Jamir said that according to the World Health Organization, 400,000 Indians succumb to cancer every year.

This figure is growing by 11 percent annually on account of tobacco consumption.

WHO estimates 2.5 million cancer cases in the country and scientific projections show that there could be 50 percent growth in deaths due to cancer by the year 2015.

“This is certainly a grim picture and calls for urgent attention from the medical fraternity, researchers, government and NGOs,” Jamir said.

He urged the hospitals in every district of the state to have a basic set-up for cancer detection, as this will help early diagnosis of cancer.

The governor expressed hope that researchers would soon come up with a cure for cancer. Present at the award ceremony were Suresh Shetty, state Minister for Medical Education, Ashok Chavan, Minister for Protocol, and A.A. Kazi, chairman of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation. The vice president left the venue immediately after the award ceremony and did not speak on the occasion.