Cancer patients on the rise
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
Around 20,000 new cancer patients are being detected from Sri Lanka
annually and the government has paid special attention towards
controlling and preventing cancer along with the other Non Communicable
Diseases (NCDs), Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake said.
Addressing consensus achieving workshop on National Cancer Prevention
and Control Policy held in Colombo yesterday, Deputy Minister
Dissanayake said annually, the government spends Rs.130 billion for the
country's free health service and modern medical equipment have been
supplied for state hospitals to fight cancer.
Cancer treatment is available in Kandy and many other state
hospitals.
Eleven main diseases have been covered by the National Immunization
Programme. But, NCDs are on the rise and one in every ten Sri Lankans
suffers from diabetes. The government is ready to face the rising kidney
diseases.
Health Ministry Additional Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala said
smoking, use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are some
of the main reasons that cause cancer.
Annually about 10 million cancer patients are being detected in the
world and cancer caused 7.5 million deaths in the world in 2008. By
2030, cancer patients could be increased up to 12 million if the disease
is not controlled. Early detection can cure many cancers, he added.
WHO Country Representative Dr. F. R. Mehta said the National Cancer
Prevention and Control Policy is a landmark step in fighting against
cancer in Sri Lanka.
Cancer can be a huge economic burden and diagnose of cancer can be
shocking.
The WHO will continue to be the technical partner in cancer control
in Sri Lanka, he added.
Dr. R. Sankaranarayanan from IARC, WHO, Dr. Suresh Kumar from WHO,
India, professionals, Health Ministry officials and many others
addressed the workshop.
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