Shillong, Feb 4: The state government is concerned about East Khasi Hills recording high incidences of cancer in the state.
Both the Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla and Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Sampath Kumar expressed concern over the trend during the 2nd Meghalaya Cancer Conclave held in the city on Wednesday.
Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the minister said India records around 1.56 million new cancer cases annually, and Meghalaya remains among the states with a high incidence of the disease. He pointed out that districts such as East Khasi Hills are particularly affected.
According to Kumar, the East Khasi Hills district continues to record one of the highest incidences of cancer in Meghalaya, with 227.9 cases detected per one lakh male population in the district alone.
Kumar stressed the urgent need for the state to intensify efforts to combat the growing burden of cancer. He identified late detection as a major contributing factor and emphasized that early diagnosis can significantly help in prevention and improve chances of recovery.
He informed that at present, cancer treatment facilities are available only in Shillong, while district-level treatment centers are yet to be established. He added that the issue has been widely discussed at various community and public platforms.
Highlighting the government’s initiatives, Kumar said sustained efforts are being made to collect samples for early detection and to provide timely treatment and care to patients. He noted that the state government has launched a dedicated Mission to address cancer-related challenges and is working towards establishing cancer treatment centers in every district across the state.
On the occasion, the health minister also launched several key initiatives aimed at strengthening cancer prevention and control in the state. These included the field implementation of the Meghalaya Mission for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, the Cancer Screening App and screening devices, and a state-wide HPV testing initiative.
He further inaugurated a collaborative project between the Government of Meghalaya and the Grace Cancer Foundation, Hyderabad, Telangana, focused on cancer control in West Khasi Hills district.
During the programme, the minister also felicitated the best-performing district under the NP-NCD programme in Meghalaya and formally launched the Health Atlas prepared by the State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC), Meghalaya.
The event saw the participation from doctors across the state and officials of the health department.
Besides Shylla and Kumar, the event was attended by Chief Secretary Shakil Ahmed , health official Joram Beda, and others .
