AIIMS Doctor Is Bringing Free Cancer Care To His Bihar Village

Dr Sunil Kumar is an Assistant Professor of cancer surgery at AIIMS. The first Saturday of every month sees hundreds of people throng to Narayan Medical College (Jamuhar) in Bihar to visit him, as per The New Indian Express.

How it all began

Dr Kumar never misses a visit to his birthplace, Dehri in the Rohtas district. That's where he began his NGO ¡®Chandrakanti Devi Cancer Foundation¡¯ named after his mother, a cancer survivor.

¡°I was practicing in the US when my mother was diagnosed with cancer, which made me realise the need for making cancer care accessible to rural parts. I joined AIIMS in 2012 and started this NGO next year. At first, only five people supported my cause. Now, the NGO has 14-15 volunteers, and when anyone suspected of cancer approaches the doctors here, they inform my NGO members,¡± he said.

EPS

¡°Our primary focus is to spread awareness about cancer and provide free treatment to cancer patients. In rural belts, especially in Bihar, access to advanced healthcare is limited. Most of the patients coming to AIIMS are in advanced stages or are in poor conditions. Early detection is the ultimate cure for this disease. So my target was that if those diagnosed with cancer are screened early, they can be admitted to AIIMS for better treatment,¡± he added.

What it is doing

¡°I am also training local healthcare workers so they can be approached for initial care. For example, if a woman has developed a lump in her breast, she will only be able to communicate this to a female healthcare worker,¡± he went on to say.

The foundation undertakes public cancer awareness at schools, colleges and government health centres on a monthly basis.

PTI

Its cancer clinic provides free consultation and treatment planning. In case advanced treatment at AIIMS is required, help is offered.

Dr Kumar is doing his part to promote cancer awareness. He is an inspiration.