Masked dancers, performing a Saraikela Chhau dance, depicted on the stage the struggle of a couple in a boat trying to cross a river against great odds signifying the huge burden of life for every human being.
The dancers performed the dance to mark the World Cancer Day at the Siksha O Anusandhan University here on Sunday. Noted Bollywood actor and politician Dr Jaya Prada graced the occasion.
The audience comprised hundreds of people who have been either battling cancer or have conquered it. The message of the day read “this battle can be won.”
“I feel it is one of the most humbling moments of my life to spend time with you people and I deem it a privilege,” said Jaya Prada while hailing the cancer survivors as ‘great fighters’.
Stating that she lived in a glamorous world, Jaya Prada said her view of life took a turn when she was performing at a show in Nairobi many years ago.
“The man was with a three-year-old child who was a fan of mine. The child, a cancer patient, wanted to meet me and hug me,” she said, adding, “All my arrogance evaporated that day.”
After entering politics, Jaya Prada said she had seen poverty and need from close quarters and she had been trying to do what she could to help people in distress, particularly cancer patients.
She praised the facilities available at the IMS and SUM Hospital.
AHRCC Director Dr Lalatendu Sarangi termed the cancer survivors as conquerors and urged the victims not to think that they are patients anymore.
Pointing out that Odisha had around 15 lakh cancer patients per year for whom the infrastructure was not adequate, he said the State Government had been taking the required steps to have a cancer centre in every district where chemotherapy and palliative care would be available.
Dr Vinod Kochupillai, former Professor of Medical Oncology at AIIMS, New Delhi said, “Cancer no longer means certain death as more than 50 per cent of the cancers is curable.” She said practice of yoga and pranayam could greatly help cancer patients.
Magsaysay award winning social worker Neelima Mishra much more can be achieved when they people would make efforts together in combating cancer.
Dr Saroj Panda, Pediatric Oncologist at IMS and SUM Hospital, said of every 100 children affected with cancer, 80 to 90 could be completely cured with proper treatment.