Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology, supported by Tata Trusts, inaugurated in Mangalore
Mangaluru: N Srinath, the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Trusts on Saturday said that the late detection and diagnosis of cancer is one of the major problems in the treatment of cancer while the availability of treatment facilities and affordability of the treatment were also among the major issues faced in cancer treatment.
He was speaking at the inaugural event of Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology at the Yendurance Zone, Yenepoya Campus here in the city. The Institute was established in association with the Tata Trusts and aims to provide full-fledge medical aid to the Cancer patients of Karnataka and Kerala.
The Institute was inaugurated by Dakshina Kannada In-Charge Minister V Sunil Kumar who lauded the efforts of Yenepoya Group in collaborating with Tata Trust and setting up a cancer treatment facility in the city.
“Our District has stood out in the medical and healthcare sector amongst other districts of the state and this new facility has only taken the bar a notch higher. People come to Dakshina Kannada from various districts and states for their treatments. Cancer is one of the major problems today, and with a facility like this, which will provide healthcare to cancer patients in line with the standards of Bengaluru, Mumbai, etc., will be able to treat more people with more affordability for people here.” Kumar said.
Listing out the three problems that his trust aims to cap in cancer treatment, Srinath said more than 70% of cancer cases in the country are detected only when it is too late to administer effective treatment.
“Late detection, availability of treatment facilities, and affordability of treatment are the three major problems and we at Tata Trusts are trying to cap it by collaborating with governments and private institutions and opening such facilities across the country,” he said.
“But as much as setting up such facilities is important, what is also important is the outreach program. More and more screening of people, encouraging people to turn up for treatment and at the same time making the treatment affordable for them. We need to eliminate the fear of Cancer from amongst people,” he added.
Addressing the staff and members of the institute who will administrate it, Srinath added that it was their responsibility to offer empathy and sympathy to the patient and to handhold them through the process of treatment. He also urged them to form emotional bond with the patients and help them mentally during the course of the treatment.
In his Presidential address, Dr. Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, Chancellor of Yeneopoya Deemed to be University thanked the almighty for fulfilling his long-cherished dream and thanked the Tata Trusts for collaborating with them in bringing the Institute to life.
“My aspirations to set up a facility began when I lost my mother Zulekha, early to cancer. And I am glad I was able to name this institute the Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology. I want to thank Ratan Tata and the Tata Trusts for placing their trust behind us. I want to assure them that we will take the legacy forward of cancer treatment and this will be a fruitful collaboration.” He said.
Built with a one-time grant-in-aid by the Tata Trust, the institute, which is spread over 36,000 sq. ft, offers comprehensive treatment to cancer patients with the help of advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities, said M. Vijayakumar, Vice-Chancellor of Yeneopoya Deemed to be University.
Dr. Vijayakumar said the institute has two radiotherapy bunkers and one brachytherapy bunker. A TrueBeam radiotherapy machine, which helps in a targeted and precise approach to cancer, and a brachytherapy machine have been installed. In the nuclear medicine facility, the hospital has a PET CT scanner, which helps in better cancer imaging of the whole body and also in radioisotope therapy. The hospital has a 10-bed daycare facility for the administration of chemotherapy.
Mangaluru MLA UT Khader also addressed the gathering and thanked both Yenepoya Group and Tata Trusts for together setting up the institute and hoped that it will help people from all cycles of life with the treatment of Cancer.
Dr. Gangadhara Somayaji, Registrar, Yenepoya Deemed to be University welcomed the guests while Dr. Jalaluddin Akbar, Prof. and head Department of Surgical Oncology presented vote of thanks.
Chairman of Islamic Academy of Education, Y. Mohammed Kunhi, Chairman of Central Haj Committee, Abdullakutty, Dakshina Kannada DC KV Rajendra, Former Karnataka Minister Ramanath Rai, MLC Pratap Simha Nayak, MLA Bharat Shetty, Rajesh Naik, Dr. Sanjiv Chopra Chief Executive, Tata Trusts Cancer Initiative and head of various other medical institutions from Bengaluru and Mangaluru were present during the event.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
