Dharamshala: The Department of Health, CTA observed World Cancer Day on February 4 each year. This year too, the Department has also engaged in several initiatives centred on the issue.
From the central Dharamshala, the Health Department has launched some awareness campaigns. Such as a panel discussion chaired by Dr Ugen Gyatso, Delek Hospital and Dr Tsering Tsamchoe, Department of Health and two brief video messages from Mr Penpa Tsering, Health Kalon and allopathy and Sorig doctors, and nurses and distribution of pens to CTA, LTWA, and Dropen Men-Tse-Khang staff with Cancer awareness messages.
Moreover, the Department of Health in collaboration with the Tibetan Cancer Society has initiated a Cancer awareness talk to CTA staff. Mr Tsultrim Dojree, Director of the Tibetan Cancer Society gave an introductory speech on the Tibetan Cancer Society’s aims and objectives. Guest speaker Dr Tsetan Dorjee, His Holiness the Dalai lama’s personal physician gave an awareness talk on ‘Cancer within the Tibetan Community’ and emphasized the importance of early detection and prevention which could save many lives from Cancer deaths. The second guest speaker Dr Manish Sharma, Medical Oncologist of Ragiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi delivered a talk on two types of risk factors of Cancer i.e. preventable and non-preventable risk factors.
Tibetan Cancer Society has also conducted free health check-ups like blood pressure, Hemoglobin (HB) tests, Electrocardiography (ECG), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and sugar tests for CTA staff, Dharamsala.
Additionally, all hospitals and clinics located in settlements have also participated in activities appropriate to their location such as engaging in awareness talks by doctors, and nurses, quiz and drawing competitions in schools, breast self-examination in nunneries and provided free health check-ups including H.pylori, mammography and pap smear tests.