Mangaluru: Energy, Kannada and Culture Minister Sunil V. Kumar said that there is a need for a joint partnership between the government and private companies to help people in overcoming the challenges of the health sector.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology Centre set up in association with Tata Trusts at the premises of Yenepoya Hospital in Deralakatte in the City on Saturday June 11.
Speaking on the occasion, Tata Trusts, Mumbai Chief Executive Officer N. Srinath said, “Tata Trusts has started cancer treatment centres in various parts of the country and has helped start centres in some places. But there is mistrust and a lack of adequate awareness among the masses about cancer in the country. This is leading to a delay in the diagnosis of cancer at an early stage. This is leading to more deaths from cancer. In this context, Tata has helped set up cancer treatment centres in many parts of the country, he said.
Stating that the centres have been providing necessary equipment for the treatment of cancer, he said that there is a need to create awareness among the people mainly for the prevention of cancer. This awareness has to be done from the level of anganwadi, and primary health centre. More people should be able to get tested, leaving aside any misconceptions about cancer. So that early-stage cancer can be detected and treated effectively and cured. In this context, there should be a proper treatment centre, where there should be a facility for treatment. Tata Trusts will be doing a lot of work towards cancer-free India and it has also been decided to take up big projects in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha in the coming days on private and public partnership basis, he informed.
Yenepoya Deemed University Vice Chancellor Dr. Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, who presided over the function, and delivered his presidential address. Tata Trusts and the Institution have cooperated to make my dream come true. In 1994, my mother was treated at the Tata Hospital for cancer. It is for this reason that her name has been given to this Institute of Oncology. It is our hope that not only cancer patients from Mangaluru but also from outside the District should get treated here and become disease-free,” he said.
The Zulekha Cancer Treatment Centre started in his Kunhi’s name, and he wished that all the people in need should get the benefit of the Centre.
Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi said that he would like to thank the Ministers, Former Ministers, dignitaries and the management and staff of the institute who participated in the opening ceremony of the centre.
Mangaluru MLA U. T. Khader also spoke on the occasion. MLAs Pratap Simha Nayak, Dr. Bharath Shetty, Rajesh Naik, Former Minister Ramanath Rai, M. C. Nanaiah, Former MP and Central Haj Committee Chairman Abdulla Kutty, Tata Cancer Care Programme Executive Officer Y. Sanjeev Chopra, Islamic Academy of Education Chairman, Muhammed Kunhi and others were present.
