A daylong programme to uplift the morale of cancer patients was organised in Guwahati on the occasion of World Cancer Day on February 4.

The programme was organised by India Tourism North East in association with Byatikram MASDO.

It was attended by delegates representing both the organisations along with doctors and staff members of the State Cancer Institute (SCI), Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

Among the delegates who visited the SCI included Sankha Subhra Devbarman, Regional Director, India Tourism North East; Dr Bibhash Chandra Goswami, SCI Director; Dr Devajit Choudhury, SCI Superintendent; Dr Neelakshi Mahanta, Professor Medical Oncology; Dr NK Kalita, Professor & Consultant of Oncology; Dr Saumen Bharatiya, President of Byatikram MASDO among others.

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In his speech, Dr Bibhash Chandra Goswami stressed on "prevention is better than cure" and urged everyone to live a healthy life.

"We should eat healthily and to fight against a disease like cancer, one must be careful in the early detection and proper treatment," he reiterated.

In his World Cancer Day speech, Sankha Subhra Devbarman encouraged the cancer patients and explained as to how tourism got involved with World Cancer Day?

"The Indian government along with tourism is involved in popularising medical and wellness tourism and billions of people are getting treatment at an affordable price in the country," he said.

In his speech, Dr Saumen Bharatiya said that Byatikram MASDO will keep engaging in such activities and raise awareness among the people.

It may be mentioned here that the State Cancer Hospital has a dedicated team of surgical, medical and radiation oncologist, pain & palliative care, anaesthesia and critical care specialists who are rendering services to cancer patients of Assam as well as the neighbouring state.

Observing February 4 as World Cancer Day began in 2000 and this is a global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

The aim has been to raise worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action.