CANADIAN SCIENTIST DELIBERATES ON CAUSES FOR HIGH CANCER IN S-W PUNJAB WITH GKU

Talwandi Sabo, November 22, 2017: Dr Shiv.O.Prasher, a world renowned Professor of Bio-Engineering at McGill University Montreal, Canada visited Guru Kashi University (GKU) and held discussion with senior scientists and officers on the probable factors for the higher risks of cancer in the S-W parts of Punjab. He was accompanied by Col Sunil Sharma, who is running an NGO for eco-friendly agriculture.
Deliberating on various dimensions of the problem, he said that the gravity of the problem needed collective efforts. He suggested the creation of an International Working Group (IWG) for this. Sharing the type of research that his group was doing on various aspects of bad quality water in relation to agriculture, domestic use and human health, he elaborated that cancer, endemic in South-Western districts of Punjab, in cotton belt, is an alarming melady affecting the masses and merits holistic investigation. He suggested the participating scientists how to seek funds from international agencies for projects involving international collaborations.
His visit was a step forward to the earlier visit of the GKU Chancellor, Dr J.S. Dhaliwal, to the McGill University, Montreal wherein he held parleys with team of scientists led by Dr Prasher. Their discussions mooted an idea of joint holistic study on the problem of cancer in the Talwandi Sabo block that will involve sampling of groundwater, surface water, soil, air and the agricultural produce in the pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon period, and their analysis for pesticides, fertilizers, heavy metals, uranium, and tri-chloro-ethylene using precision techniques. Enthusiastic about the IWG and the proposed study on the environmental causes of higher risks of cancer in South-Western Region of Punjab, Dr Dhaliwal called it as his dream project which Dr Shiv O. Prasher (McGill) has also laid emphasis on.
The Managing Director, S. Sukhraj Singh Sidhu, expressed gratitude to the Canadian Scientist for his GKU and holding parleys with the scientists and suggesting the formation of collaborative working group on environment and cancer and hoped that the outcome will benefit people in the long run.
Earlier, welcoming Dr Shiv.O. Prasher, the GKU Vice Chancellor, Dr B.S.Dhaliwal, said that despite the extent and hazards of the problem, detailed scientific studies have not been undertaken in S-W Punjab to elucidate the actual cause. The joint international efforts by experts of GKU and McGill University will go a long way in knowing the problem in detail and creating awareness among the people, he expected.
The GKU Registrar, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman said that the eventual outcome of the Indo-Canadian effort will be a status paper with shared inputs by GKU and McGill University. In the long run, this will lead to a suitable strategy to create awareness among the local community how to deal with the noxious exposure to environmental contaminants, he said.
The GKU Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr Jagpal Singh said that the proposed outreach plan with the help of NGOs, extension functionaries and scientists in the Malwa region will help educate people on this serious human health problem.
Dr Prasher and Col Sunil Sharma were shown around various landmarks of the University and honored with a shawl and a memento on this occasion.