Punjab News- Good turnout on day 1 of World’s Largest Cancer Screening Camp

Chandigarh, September 28, 2013:  The early detection was most effective tool for prevention and better treatment of cancer, said Dr Ajay Bakshi, CEO and Managing Director, Max Healthcare while participating in the World’s Largest Cancer Screening Camp organised by the Government of Punjab in 22 districts. The volunteers and doctors from across India have come forward to support the Government of Punjab in its Fight against Cancer.
Taking the Battle against Cancer to the Second Phase, the Government of Punjab is holding the largest Cancer Screening Camp in 22 districts of Punjab starting today till tomorrow from 9:30am-5pm. Max India Foundation and Max Healthcare the leading healthcare service provider in North India, have partnered with the Government of Punjab as Lead Partners for helping set up this World’s Largest Cancer Screening Camp in the state. Max Healthcare, through its strong network of 11 hospitals and facilities spread across North India is extending its PPP arrangement with the Government of Punjab for these camps to help with early detection and awareness regarding cancer in the state.  
The today camp conducted at Civil Hospital, near Max Super Speciality Hospital, Phase IV Mohali, witnessed people coming ahead in large numbers to get themselves screened for Cancer. As per the survey conducted by the Government of Punjab in its First Phase of the door-to-door campaign, Mohali reports 931 confirmed cases of Cancer. Also approximately 1537 persons in Mohali complained of symptoms indicating Cancer.
Dr Bakshi said that we at Max Healthcare were proud to join hands with the Punjab government to conduct the World’s Largest Cancer Screening Camp. “We were elighted that the Max Healthcare family including doctors, technicians, nurses and employees have participated in huge numbers to provide medical and operational support at the camps at various locations across Punjab”, he said, adding, “We have provided 100 senior doctors for the entire camp. We have also mobilised 500 other volunteers to be present at all 22 districts.” A team of about 17 people have worked internally to ensure that these camps operate smoothly. The day 1 of the camp received tremendous participation from the residents of Bathinda and the neighbouring regions and was a success. He added they urged people to come forward and get them screened on the second day also. The people must remember that early detection was the first step to fight against Cancer, he asserted.
Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary- Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Punjab said that we took pride in the immense success of the First Phase of the State Wide Door to Door Cancer Awareness Campaign. Efforts were made in the second phase to take all suspected cases for final diagnosis. As a result, 2200 new cases of cancer have been identified and treatment started. It was time to now wrap up the second phase through his mega camp. Early detection was the most effective tool for prevention and better treatment of cancer. Through this Mega Cancer Screening Camp, we aimed to ensure that no patient was left without basic diagnosis, screening or clinical consultation for Cancer. “We were happy to associate with Max Healthcare and other partners for this initiative”, she said, adding, “We believed that this partnership would help us attract the best medical talent comprising of a pool of qualified doctors and nursing staff that would be intrinsic in the cancer screening process,” maintained Mahajan.   
Yuvraj Singh, Ace Cricketer, Founder & Chairman, YOUWECAN, Awareness Ambassador- Punjab Cancer Screening Camp, said that cancer continued to pose a big threat to our society and it needed all of us to get together and fight against it. Cancer not only affected the patient but also the family as they together bear the trauma of the disease. Being a Cancer survivor, I could truly understand the devastating implications of the disease on the physical and mental health of the patient. I felt it was my duty to spread awareness about this deadly disease and that early and timely check-ups can treat and cure cancer in maximum number of people. I urged every resident of Punjab to come and participate in the Screening Camp. Myself and YOUWECAN were proud to be a part of the World’s Largest Cancer Screening Camp. I urged people of Punjab to come forward and get themselves screened tomorrow also which was the last day of the camp.
Meanwhile Max Super Speciality Hospitals in Mohali and Bathinda have been working to detect and treat cancer patients in the region. Both the hospitals are equipped with advanced medical equipments like LINAC for Radiotherapy, 1.5T MRI & 16 slice CT which are a first in the region, to combat cancer at the grass-root level.