M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Feb17: A senior BJP leader Sanjay Singh, who is a retired colonel of the Indian army, has exhorted the state health department to provide all medical attention to the village Damwa where cancer rules the roost.
Sanjay Singh said 17 people have so far died of cancer in this village which is 62 kms away from Daltonganj. Damwa comes under the Pipra block in Palamu. Three people in this village are currently fighting cancer.
Singh said this is perhaps one such village in Palamu where the strike rate of cancer is very high. It is up to the medical fraternity to find out how and why cancer is so common here. “There is a crisis of hygiene and sanitation here. Issue of drinking water is equally intense here,” Singh said.
Illicit liquor is also taking a toll on health here, according to the ex-army officer. The villagers also concede that illicit liquor is harming them.
The BJP leader has asked for a massive cancer awareness camp in this village. “Let people know what are the first signs and symptoms of cancer,” he said.
Civil surgeon Palamu Dr. Anil Kumar said he visited this village Damwa and found cases of cancer. “There are cases of oral cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, blood cancer, etc. Men and women both are affected by cancer here,” said the civil surgeon.
He agreed that awareness about cancer is a must here as people lack knowledge about the disease.
Sanjay Singh pointed out that detection of cancer gets too late and when it is finally diagnosed the patient is halfway to his death. The patients from here go to BHU hospital in Varanasi in UP as it proves them less costly. “We all must work to save this Damwa village from becoming a cancer cemetery,” he said.
CS Dr. Anil Kumar said he has asked people to take note of their glands, old and lingering wounds and sudden loss of weight. A gland on the body if it is hard and does not pain may be a dangerous sign. He has asked people to visit a hospital and not to quack as cases of cancer worsen faster than one can expect.
Sanjay Singh said the villagers told him about mining activities there and they contended that their underground water is not that potable. On this, he said that he is no technical expert but what the villagers are saying about the poor quality of the drinking water, it should be addressed by the drinking and sanitation department of the state.
“It is high time that common people and the government gear up to beat cancer,” the BJP leader said.
