In Mumbai's state-run Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, a special cancer ward will be created to provide focussed treatment to children suffering from cancer. Keeping in mind the rising number of children suffering from cancer, the hospital decided to establish a separate ward which will be only for children. The hospital has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the non-governmental organisation 'CanKids...KidsCan' which is dedicated to a change for childhood cancer in India. The new ward will be built to facilitate cancer screening and early detection among children.
According to Prakash Wakode, additional director, Directorate of Medical Education, most cancer cases among children pertain to leukaemia and to tackle that, the new ward will be a boon for the small patients and their families.
As per the data on National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (NCDIR-NCRP), nine per cent of the total cases of cancer in the country were recorded in Maharashtra. The number of cancer cases and deaths resulting from cancer in the state have gone up to 11,306 and 5,727 respectively in the past three years. The statistics were recently presented in the Lok Sabha by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state for health and family welfare.
Experts agreed that one major problem in treating cancer among children was the lack of early detection and treatment among children. Also, experts agreed on the need for improved and focussed cancer research as well. Dr Sute, head of paediatrics at Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, says, "It is still in the planning stages. As of now, the complete structure has to be chalked out and only then we can know when exactly it will come into being. But, whenever it does, I'm sure it will benefit a lot of children and help them get the ind of treatment they should get."