As many as 9,39,244 people above the age of 30 years were screened under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in Ganjam district during the last two years. Of them, 2,587 were found to have cancer symptoms and sent to identification centres.
These were revealed at a programme organised here by the Zilla Swasthya Samiti to mark the World Cancer Day recently.
Speakers opined that the number of cancer patients would be declined if men would quit taking tobacco, gutkha, bidis and cigarettes and women breast-fed infants adequately.
CDMO-in-charge R Jagdish Patnaik presided over the meeting. District Public Health Officer Dr Rajendra Sahu, Dr Ashok Mishra, Dr Abani Patro, Santanu Behera, Shyam Sundar Tripathy and Sabita Rout spoke.
The Kranti organisaton too observed the day by organising awareness programmes.
The programme held in front of the Khallikote College under chairmanship of Kranti president Dr Devananda Dash was attended by former MLA Dr RC Chyaupatnaik, former BDA Chairman Subash Moharana, Lok Sevak Mandal activist Rajendra Kumar Jena, Kalam Group of Institute chairman Kanhu Charan Choudhur and BYJD district president Dhananjay Rao, among others.