GUWAHATI, Feb 17 - State Cancer Institute (SCI) along with Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), an initiative of Tata Trusts and the Government of Assam, organised a �Cancer Walkathon� from SCI to Ulubari flyover today.
The 5-km walkathon was organised on the second anniversary of SCI to create awareness about the disease and promote a healthy lifestyle.
It is to be mentioned that 48.2% of the adult population in Assam consume tobacco products. According to the Global Adults Tobacco Survey 2017, 50% of all cancers and 90% of all oral cancers are due to tobacco consumption. Every year, 32,000 new cancer cases are detected in Assam because of the consumption of tobacco in the forms of smoking and chewing. Seventy per cent of the cancer cases are detected at a later stage.
A free screening was done for all the participants taking part in the walkathon. Students, defence personnel, teachers, doctors, nurses, health professionals, government officials, members of non-government and community-based organisations took part in this event.
Vara Prasad, ACCF CEO, said, �The purpose of the walkathon is to assess the level of awareness and adoption of safe practices in prevention and early detection of cancer and help people understand the signs and symptoms of cancer.�
More than 2,500 people took part in the walkathon.
