GUWAHATI, April 12 - In order to help cancer patients with a hand-holding approach, the Education Research Development Foundation (ERDF), Guwahati opened a patients� help desk at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) here today.
The help desk is intended to facilitate patients� counselling, navigation and guidance in the BBCI premises and help in cancer screening camps as well as patients� interaction in OPD along with consultants.
Inaugurating the patients� help desk, BBCI Director Dr AC Kataki said, �Collaboration is very important for developmental work and this is a unique example of collaboration between a public sector institution and a private sector institution.�
On the occasion an MoU was also signed between BBCI and the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) for promotion of cancer research. Dr Kataki said that apart from academic and research collaboration with USTM, BBCI would also guide USTM students in demographic follow-up of the patients.
Speaking on the occasion, M Hoque, Chancellor, USTM and Chairman ERDF said, �Cancer patients who come from far-flung areas for treatment find themselves at a loss in the first few days regarding who to meet, where to go, what to do and so many other things. Keeping this in mind, USTM has taken the initiative to open this patients� help desk at BBCI. Every day groups of students from the Department of Social Work, USTM will be available at the help desk for service.�
The MoU was signed by Dr RK Sharma, Vice Chancellor, USTM and BBCI Director Dr Kataki.
Apart from academic, management and research work, USTM and BBCI will collaborate in matters regarding dissemination and updating knowledge of research work being carried out in the North East through technical activities such as seminars, symposia, workshops, publication of papers, conventions, conferences at various levels, social issues and awareness programmes, recognition and rewards to individual achievements in awareness, technology and entrepreneurship, visiting faculties, industry visits, etc.
