The three-day 19th Annual Conference of the Association of Oncologists of North East India (AONEI) that commenced from February 2 concluded on February 4 where 250 registered members, including 100 oncologists from across India participated.
The valedictory programme emphasised enhancing standards and care in oncology, along with staying updated on recent advances in the field, especially in the context of Nagaland.
Speaking to Nagaland Post on the sideline of the event and reflecting on Nagaland’s cancer scenario, AONEI organising secretary Dr Keduovinuo Keditsu pointed out the absence of a dedicated cancer facility, noting that the state’s infrastructure was still far from satisfactory.
She said though there were radiation facilities at some private hospitals in Dimapur, there was a lack of government facilities. She stressed collaboration among cancer centres to make cancer care accessible and affordable.
Admitting the shortage of trained personnel in treating oncology cases, she emphasised increased focus on training programmes, urging the government to step up efforts, considering the rising incidence of cancer patients and the need for enhanced public awareness.
Dr Keditsu disclosed that event’s platinum sponsor KARKINOS expressed interest in supporting Nagaland, with hospitals from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad approaching them for collaboration and training opportunities.
She informed that the conference was deemed essential for the community as it provided a platform for collaboration towards a common good, hoping that the collaborative spirit would persist in the future.
She said the AONEI conference noted that Nagaland, ranked 11th in the country, faced a significant burden of cancer, with nasopharynx cancer and tobacco-related cancer being predominant. She added that cervical cancer, prevalent in other parts of India, too posed a considerable challenge to Nagaland.
Dwelling on the World Cancer Day’s theme “Close the Care Gap”, she emphasised analysing and addressing gaps in cancer care, including financial, social, and physical aspects, recognising disparities in both rural and urban areas.
Keditsu drew attention to the widespread use of tobacco in Nagaland, claiming that children as young as 12-15 years regularly chew tobacco, considering it a norm.
Stressing the urgency of awareness campaigns, especially targeting school children, she acknowledged ongoing efforts but emphasised more extensive drives to educate them about the harmful effects of tobacco.
She underscored the significance of starting preventive measures at a primary level to curb the initiation of harmful habits.
Sharing her testimony at the event, Padma Shri recipient and cancer survivor Neidono Angami disclosed that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1996, which shook her to the core both mentally and physically.
She expressed her gratitude to the doctors who had assisted her throughout the entire treatment process and informed the gathering that she had to undergo reviews for over 10 years.
As a cancer survivor, she said the fear of a recurrence always lingered, adding that some of the survivors decided in March 2002 to establish the Cancer Survivors Fellowship, a platform where survivors could share their experiences and support each other.
They felt that they would aim to instil hope in patients dealing with cancer through their own stories.
Reflecting on the World Cancer Day 2022-2024 theme “Close the Care Gap”, she said the AONEI should educate and create awareness among the public about cancer, which required a collective effort.
Meanwhile, Dr Keduovinuo disclosed that more than 200 registrations were done at the conference, which comprised 118 faculty members, including 53 regional, 43 national, and 27 local faculty participants.
She said the event featured 40 displayed posters, while the souvenir magazine contained 42 written abstracts.
The event also included a first-of-its-kind pre-conference live workshop at Putuonuo Hospital, Kohima on February 2, followed by other programmes from February 3 to 4 at De Oriental Grand here. The orator of the conference was Dr CS Pramesh, director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. The programme was followed by a speech from AONEI president Dr Jadunath Buragohain.