Tibetan Cancer Society marks world cancer day with signature campaign
DHARAMSALA, 4 Feb: Tibetan Cancer Society stands in solidarity with those who succumbed to cancer and stand by those who battle cancer, says Tsultrim Dorjee, founder and director of Tibetan Cancer Society.
The director of Tibetan Cancer Society made the remarks at a signature campaign it has organised here in Mcleod Ganj here to mark the world cancer day.
“We stand in solidarity with those who succumbed to cancer and stand by those who battle cancer,” Dorjee said.
“At the moment, Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and there is a high possibility that it will soon become the number one,” he added.
According to the World Health Organisation, Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer.
Tibetan Cancer Society is observing the world cancer day with its signature campaign calling upon every individual to take initiative and be a part in the fight against cancer.
“The signature campaign aims to raise awareness on cancer prevention and treatment to the masses,” he said.
Puma Jungney, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile inaugurated the campaign which was also attended by some Tibetan parliamentarians, CTA’s health Secretary Palden Dhondup, Dharamsala Tibetan Settlement Officer (TSO) and heads of Dharamsala Tibetan NGO’s among others.
Tibetan Cancer Society is a Non-governmental organization fighting cancer by generating cancer awareness program and cancer detection program among the Tibetan community.
The organisation was founded by Dorjee, a former Program Officer of Indian Cancer Aid Society.
It hit him greatly to see no representation of Tibetans at an international conference on Cancer in Bengaluru when he attended the event in 2014 as a Program Officer of Indian Cancer Aid Society.
Besides organising health camps and cancer prevention and treatment awareness within the Tibetan community, the NGO’s ‘Compassion Home’ in Majnuka-Tilla Tibetan Colony in New Delhi caters to Tibetan Cancer patients undergoing treatments in the Indian capital.
‘Compassion Home’ provides both accommodation and food for a nominal fee of RS 100 per day if the stay is for a few days and RS 50 per day if its for month. Those with financial constraints are accepted without any charges.
The Patients under the care of Tibetan Cancer Society at its Compassion Home are treated with an outdoor picnic in Delhi on every Sunday.
Presently, there are 5-6 Tibetan cancer patients at ‘Compassion Home’.
The organisation maintains that the patients need such experiences where they enjoy the day without burdening their minds with their daily routine of hospitals and the stressful treatments.
Dorjee thanked Kalu Rinpoche for his generous financial assistance to run the organisation and its ‘Compassion Home’ along with Tibet Fund as well as Tibetan hoteliers, travel agents and individuals for their generous assistance and donations.
World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness about cancer, to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment as well as to fight misinformation and to reduce stigmas surrounding cancer.
Multiple initiatives are run on World Cancer Day to show support for those affected by cancer. 2020 marks the midway point of the 3-year ‘I Am and I Will’ campaign. ‘I Am and I Will’ is an empowering call-to-action urging for personal commitment and represents the power of individual action taken now to impact the future.
