IndiaPost.com - Boot Camp on Cancer with US help

NEW DELHI: India's Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the first-ever Boot Camp on Cancer in India being organized by the American Cancer Society, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). The workshop is being supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Inaugurating the Boot Camp, Dr. Ramadoss said, "This is a wonderful and unique experience not only for the participants but for me also." Titled "India's Growing Threat: A Journalist Boot Camp on the Rising Cancer and Tobacco Burdens," the boot camp will provide Indian journalists with the latest data, access to experts and insights on some of the most promising prevention and treatment strategies. Media persons and cancer experts from all parts of the country are participating at this intensive workshop. Th

e boot camp will provide latest data, access to experts and insights on some of the most promising prevention and treatment strategies. Addressing the gathering comprising 25 journalists and 50 cancer experts from all over India, Dr Ramadoss said, "We have nearly a million deaths due to cancer in India. In India, cancer is the most costly disease to treat. Most of the patients are poor living in rural areas, who often have to sell or mortgage their property to afford treatment. It has a major social and economic impact on the country.

We are primarily focusing at early detection and prevention. Tobacco is the biggest villain in our country. From June 1st, we are going to enforce pictorial warnings on cigarette packs. From August this year, no packaged food items can have tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. We will set up an authoritative regulatory body to enforce these." Dr Ramadoss further added, "In 2009, India will be hosting the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health (WCTOH) for the first time. India needs to be a part of the latest global developments in cancer treatment such as nanotechnology."

Patricia Felts, Deputy Chief Operating Officer with the American Cancer Society, said, "We work in the area of cancer and tobacco-control. India has shown a clear and impressive commitment to tackle the growing health threat of cancer and tobacco.

Through this boot camp, we want journalists to tell rational stories on cancer control across India. Journalists should take this opportunity to learn, listen and ask questions on how to write balanced stories on cancer keeping in mind the impact these stories carry on the society as a whole."