Tata Trust, Cachar Cancer Hospital launch cancer awareness motorcycle rally in Northeast states

Tata Trust, in collaboration with Cachar Cancer Hospital has launched a motorcycle rally in the North-Eastern states of the Indian hemisphere to raise the awareness of cancer among the people and sensitise the patients, because the north-eastern region records a high cancer prevalence rate.

The rally, which is titled ‘Run and Ride’, was flagged off from Assam’s largest city, Guwahati, on Tuesday, and is entitled to cover Tezpur, Itanagar, Dibrugarh, Kohima, Imphal, Aizawl, and Agartala, before concluding the rally in Assam’s Silchar on March 21, whilst covering a total distance of over 2,100 km.

Dr. Ravi Kannan, Director of Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, said, “The rally aims to spread awareness on cancer and the importance of early detection. 50 per cent of all cancers and 90 per cent of oral cancers can be prevented.”

He added, “The riders will interact with people and organisations on the way in small towns, villages and big cities all across northeast India, spreading awareness about cancer, risk factors, sign and symptoms, its preventive measures, research aspects and treatment modalities.”

He also told that the North-East region gets about 45,000 fresh cancer cases every year, apart from being with a population of approximately five crores.

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He said, “Across India, Aizawl district in Mizoram reported the highest rate of cancer among males, while Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest number among females. 70 per cent of the cases are reported at the late stages,” adding that it is due to lack of awareness about the symptoms, poor access to affordable care, and other psychological factors like fear, fatalism, and many more.

Also collaborating in the rally are the Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV), National Cancer Grid, Electrobion Sip, Silchar Thumpers, and others, who are also set to organise street plays, sensitisation and educational talks, apart from sharing the stories of the cancer patients.