3000 new patients are being confirmed every month in Haryana
Chandigarh : The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and MP of Sirsa, Kumari Selja said that for the past decade, cancer has been spreading rapidly in the districts of Haryana, particularly in those falling under the Ghaggar River belt, such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kaithal, and Ambala. Every month, three thousand new patients are emerging. In Haryana, 1500 cancer patients die every month, bringing the annual death toll to 18,000. Kumari Selja said that the government should provide cancer treatment facilities at district hospitals in the affected districts to prevent the deaths of cancer patients due to lack of treatment.
In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that cancer is spreading rapidly not only in Haryana but also in Punjab. The number of new patients is increasing, as well as the number of deaths. The situation in Haryana is dire, with cancer becoming a deadly threat. According to statistics, 2,916 new cancer patients are reported every month in the state, with the annual number nearing 35,000. Talking about cancer-related deaths, 1,500 patients die every month in Haryana, with the yearly figure reaching 18,000. Shockingly, among the population above 30 years of age, symptoms of cancer are found in 102 out of every 100,000 people. In Haryana, districts in the Ghaggar belt like Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kaithal, and Ambala are witnessing a rapid spread of cancer.
The origin of this issue lies in the hilly region of Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh. The river Ghaggar enters Haryana from Kalka in the Shivalik Hills, then flows from Mohali in Punjab to Ambala, Patiala, Kaithal, Sangrur, Fatehabad, Mansa, Sirsa, Hanumangarh, and Anoopgarh before reaching Pakistan. About 320 kilometers long, the river Ghaggar becomes polluted after Panchkula. Samples taken at various points in the river in recent years, under the orders of the National Green Tribunal’s task force, have revealed the presence of toxic elements in the river, which is extremely dangerous for human health. Successful treatment for the first and second stages of cancer is possible, but it requires the government to conduct health check-ups to prevent cancer in time.
Cancer treatment is currently available at Atal Care Center in Ambala, the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, and PGI Rohtak. This facility should be made available at every district headquarters. People have to travel to Acharya Tulsi Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Bikaner, Rajasthan, and PGI Rohtak for treatment. Many cancer patients die due to lack of treatment. She said the government to take serious steps in this direction.
