Governors Anandiben Patel and Najma Heptulla call for multipronged fight against breast cancer; initiate first Breast Cancer Action Day for Oct 21

The governors also unveiled a sand sculpture at Puri, Odisha by renowned sand artist Padma Shri Sudarshan Patnaik remotely, marking the day observed as part of IHW Council’s month-long mega virtual conclave on Breast Cancer Action Month.

“Cancer is spreading rapidly across the world and more severely in India. It can be treated and cured if detected early. Even men can have it. So, it is important to hold regular screening camps in cities and villages. As the CM of Gujarat, we introduced Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya Yojana, focusing on gender-budgeting that benefited women the most – more than 1.5 crore women were screened in the health camps under it. We must educate teenage girls right in schools about the health problems who can educate their mothers. I believe, if we care for our mothers, we can save 50% of cancer patients,” says Smt Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh & Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

“Cancer can strike anyone, irrespective of the age, sex, profession or economic status. About 80% of cancer patients at some stage of their treatment find themselves struggling to cope with financial requirements for treatment. Efforts like the Breast Cancer Action Day today should be held regularly to make people aware of cancer and help the patients survive. I am sure the programme will be a source of encouragement for both patients and survivors and tell them that having cancer does not mean death – people from all walks of life should join such efforts,” says Dr Najma Heptulla, Hon’ble Governor of Manipur.

“I am very happy and honoured to be a part of this effort. People must know that cancer is curable and
every artist should come forward in their capacity to create awareness,” says Padma Shri awardee
Sudarshan Patnaik.

“This is unfortunate that despite growing awareness in the country, one out of every two women diagnosed with breast cancer loses her life to this disease, primarily because of delay in detection and treatment. Therefore, efforts like today’s national Breast Cancer Action Day become more important. It is a momentous occasion not only for our on-going month long mega movement that exhorts people to move from awareness to action to for breast cancer prevention, but also for our nation’s resolve of building a swasth and Ayushamn Bharat, where people are free of diseases that are preventable and empowered with quality healthcare to save lives from diseases that are treatable,” says Mr. Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council.

“Breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries. It is one of the biggest challenges for women’s health. India registered 162,468 new cases of breast cancer in 2018. The majority of cases in India are diagnosed in late stages due to poor awareness,” says Dr. Meera Agnihotri, Founder-President of WWW Foundation.

“The Breast Cancer Action Day is a thoughtful act and adds an impetus to the ongoing campaign of creating awareness. Schemes like Ayushman Bharat have already begun a transformational moment in cancer treatment in India while I believe PM-JAY will address the health education needs,” says Saumil Mody, Oncology General Manager, Novartis Oncology India.

They were joined by Dr. Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy CEO, National Health Authority, Dr. Anil D’Cruz, President, The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Prof. Ravi Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer, India Cancer Research Consortium (ICMR-DHR), Saumil Mody, Oncology General Manager, Novartis Oncology India, Dr. Meera Agnihotri, Founder of WWW Foundation, and Dr. Hema Divakar, CEO of ARTIST and FOGSI Ambassador to The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.