KARACHI: NICH registers 1,500 cancer patients in 6 years
KARACHI, April 23: The Paediatric Oncology Unit, run by the Child Aid Association (CAA) at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Karachi has registered some 1,500 cancer patients in the last six years, with an induction rate of 20 new cancer patients every month.
This was informed by President CAA Prof Nizam-ul-Hasan during his speech on the occasion of the Paediatric Oncology Unit’s sixth anniversary, celebrated at the NICH on Saturday.
He said an average of 150 patients received chemotherapy every month at the unit. “We have achieved a 50 per cent cure rate, which though less than that of the best institutions of the world, can be considered satisfactory in such a short period due to shortcomings beyond our control,” he said.
“Oncology is a super specialty and those who work in this field are special persons, as they see death and suffering from very close quarters,” Prof Nizam observed.
He said the annual get-together provided an opportunity to patient’s under treatment to meet those, who had been discharged after treatment and were living a healthy life. This provided patients great encouragement, he viewed.
“Last year, we introduced flowcytometry, which is an important tool in specifying the type of cancer,” he said.
Dr Abdul Aziz is providing honorary services, while Prof Kazi Shakoor, after retirement as director JPMC Karachi and professor of Pathology, has also offered his honorary services, he said.
“We have a project of setting up a cytogenetic laboratory in hand, which will employ latest techniques for specific diagnosis of cancers,” he told, appreciating the support of the APPNA, an organization of Pakistani doctors in North America, the Department of Cytogenetics, the Texas Children Hospital in Houston, USA, and Prof Col Abidi.
The shortage of trained personnel was the main drawback in the expansion of the Paediatric Oncology in Pakistan, Prof Nizam said, adding that a group of paediatric oncologists from the USA had offered to start training programmes in Paediatric Oncology at the NICH.
Earlier, the Director NICH, Prof Dr Afroze Ramzan Sherali, appreciated the social services of the CAA and lauded the hard work of Prof Nizam, saying since his retirement 14 years ago, he still came to the NICH everyday to look after the CAA’s social projects.
The treatment of a cancerous child took four to five years, costing from Rs0.3 to Rs0.5 million, she added.
Local businessman and guest of honour Khawar M Butt appreciating the work of the CAA team assured his cooperation in the treatment of needy children.
He stressed upon philanthropists to supplement the CAA’s projects at the NICH.
The CAA spends Rs10 million annually on some 350 patients. Besides cancer patients, the association also provided free medicines and free investigations to patients of other diseases as well, he maintained.
“There is a paucity of funds to run bone marrow transplants at the NICH. I urge the business community to come forward and assist welfare projects of the CAA,” he said.
The father of a cancer patient, Saeed Ahmed, who belongs to Rahim Yar Khan, also expressed his views. — PPI
