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Participants display placards during the cancer walkathon in Guwahati city on February 17.[/caption]
Dimapur, Feb. 17 (EMN): To create awareness about cancer and promote healthy lifestyle, State Cancer Institute (SCI) and Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF)- an initiative of the Tata Trusts and Government of Assam- have jointly organised a cancer walkathon on February 17.
Cancer walkathon was organised with an objective to create awareness about cancer, risk factors, symptoms and treatment and facilities available for the treatment of the disease; mobilise the community towards screening for early detection of cancer; and to create awareness about the ill-effect of consuming tobacco.
According to Global Adults Tobacco Survey 2017, about 50% of all cancers and 90% of all oral cancers are due to tobacco consumption. Every year, 32,000 new cancer cases are detected in Assam because of consuming tobacco in the form of smoking and chewing.
The use of tobacco products (e.g. smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco) are the single most preventable cause of death worldwide. Cancer is more prevalent in people above the age of 30 years.
Students, defence personnel, teachers, doctors, nurses, health professionals, government institutions, non-government organisations and community based organisations took part in the event.
The cancer walkathon conveyed message to the people that “Cancer has to be a community driven programme where each one educates and mobilises the other; enhance the knowledge about the nature of cancer as a disease- its diagnosis and treatment; make the people aware about probable signs and symptoms, environmental risk factors so that the people willingly participate in the screening programmes and to diminish stigma associated with cancer.”
Vara Prasad, CEO of ACCF said, “The purpose of walkathon is to assess the level of awareness and impact of awareness programmes in adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection and helping people to understand the signs and symptoms of cancer, encourage them to know what’s normal for them and give them the confidence to speak their concerns.”
Cancer walkathon 2019 saw a participation of more than 2500 people.
“Walk a step ahead of cancer to beat cancer” was the slogan or message of the walkathon.