Apollo Cancer Centre Stands United in the Fight against Cancer and Covid19
Ambar Bhattacharya, abptakmaa, Kolkata, 4th February 2021 : Marking World Cancer Day, Apollo Cancer Centre organised “The Hand Print Campaign” to raise awareness and education about cancer, a global burden. Cancer survivors, doctors, nurses and caretakers imprinted their palms on a wall expressing their support and gratitude towards each other for overcoming both cancer and Covid19 together.
In India, over 1.5 million new cancer patients are registered every year, and approximately 7,80,000 die from cancer, which makes cancer the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. This awareness programme aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman Apollo Hospitals Group and Ms. Preetha Reddy joined in the awareness programme and imprinted their messages on the support wall in the fight against cancer.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals group said, “The cancer care delivery system in India was one of the most affected healthcare segment, 95% of cancer centres are situated in urban areas, while 70% of the population lives in the rural areas. During the pandemic, travel restrictions made it difficult for cancer patients to move to cities or different states to get proper treatment. Telemedicine and tele-health-based interventions emerged as reasonably practical solutions to these impediments in the delivery of care to cancer patients. Our specialists ensured to expend the best care to patients even during the pandemic through teleconsultations. Emergency treatments were also offered to highly critical patients at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre and Apollo Cancer Centre, Theynampet. APCC has treated more than 100 patients during the pandemic (since March 2020).”
Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “We at Apollo Hospitals stood as a team, took necessary precautions and measures to keep our service to the patients seamless. We made sure the patient gets the best medical care despite various parameters and restrictions during COVID. We thank our international oncology experts along with the cancer management team who extended their support and offered services to patients during the pandemic.”
At Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, two “walls” were put up to commemorate World Cancer Day celebrating the united stand of the healthcare providers and cancer patients during the pandemic. Both doctors and patients fighting the deadly disease left their hand imprints and short messages on the wall.
The wall was inaugurated by actor Chandan Sen, who is himself a cancer survivor, and actress Devlina Kumar, of Gotro and Haami fame in the presence of Mr. Rana Dasgupta, CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata.
Speaking on the occasion CEO Mr. Rana Dasgupta said: “We are proud that we were able extend all the modalities of cancer treatment, including onco-surgery, throughout the pandemic. We also commissioned the high precision-high speed Halcyon E, the first radiotherapy unit of its kind in entire Eastern India. The first breast cancer risk reduction surgery in a BRCA positive patient was also performed at our hospital in September 2020.”
Renowned onco-surgeon and director of surgical oncology at Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, Dr. Shaikat Gupta, and senior consultant, radiation oncology, and head-research & academics, Apollo Cancer Centre, Kolkata, Dr. Tanweer Shahid, were also present on the occasion.
