Punjab News Declare Malwa cancer zone: PPCC to Soni

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Prime VIP
Ropar, July 5

The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) general secretary, Rampal Dhaipi, has approached Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni, seeking declaration of Malwa as a cancer zone.

Dhaipi, who is also the vice-chairperson of the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation, has sent a report to Soni seeking the earliest free cancer treatment facility and intervention for needy patients in this belt.

It is learnt that Soni has asserted to take up the matter with Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Dhaipi reasoned that daily two to three persons were dying of cancer in Malwa, which pegs the figure at about 63 cancer deaths per month. “Sadly, Malwa belt has fallen victim to cancer due to excessive use of chemicals for farming and poor quality of sub soil. Our (illiterate) people do not have access to quality medical facilities and do not have even an iota of idea of preventive measures,” Dhaipi added.

Demanding a modern cancer research and medical treatment institute laced with latest diagnostic facilities for Malwa, he said: “We need to have mobile cancer-detecting vans, which should be equipped with latest technology and adequate medicos. It can help in detecting cancer at an early stage.”

It has been suggested that the mobile vans be taken under the wings of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and people should be insured against this disease.

“Emphasising on the treatment alone will do no good unless the government does not identify the major cause that has spread cancer like an epidemic. Studies have pointed out that huge amount of depleted uranium traces has been found in Malwa. The government should work on it in a consolidated manner to deal with the situation,” he said.

Dhaipi had earlier also written to Minister for Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal, following which he had sent a team that collected ground water samples.
 
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