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I write this post as Caregiver to a cancer victor – my wife – Ruby Ahluwalia and the challenges we faced during her long-drawn treatment and recovery thereafter.

Through this post, firstly, I wish to congratulate UICC – Union for International Cancer Control & World Health Organization (WHO) United Nations for choosing this years theme as CLOSE THE CARE GAP, thus bringing this element out in the open.

Fight against cancer is not just chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

Of course, medical treatment is crucial but so is addressing all fronts that cancer opens up for patients and their families.

They need a lot of help to cope with emotional, financial, physical stresses, lack of rehabilitation avenues besides social ostracism based on myths.

Post-treatment, they can’t be left as outcasts and non-productive liabilities.

It is our collective responsibility to provide proper psychosocial support and rehabilitation to them so that they can live a productive life thereby contributing to the national GDP.

As a caregiver, whilst I was grateful to experience excellent medical support, much was lacking on all other fronts.

I am grateful to the Government of India for charting a roadmap to make medical treatment more inclusive by opening more super speciality cancer hospitals. Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, for your vision.

However, there is very little focus on augmenting awareness, preventive, psychosocial support and rehabilitation initiatives for this huge population facing cancer/after-effects of cancer.

Our personal struggles and learnings led to the formation of the non-profit Sanjeevani-Life Beyond Cancer in 2012.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer has been relentlessly pursuing the dream to fill the gaps thru its various programs. Over 3,50,000 lives have already been enriched during this journey of 10 years ..more needs to be done.

On this World Cancer Awareness day, the entire team at Sanjeevani LifeBeyond Cancer has pledged to double our efforts on being there for cancer patients and close as many gaps for them, as possible.

World Cancer Day is an international day marked on 4 February to raise awareness on cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.

World Cancer Day is led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to support the goals of the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008.

Cancer is a huge challenge and needs collective action on all our parts.

We sincerely urge all to contribute. First and foremost, let’s look at our & our loved one’s lifestyles – so that we don’t fall prey to cancer. That itself will stem the tide.

Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer is there to assist through all else including handholding, awareness, prevention and holistic healing programs as captured in the short video.

To know more you are welcome to visit our website www.sanjeevani-lifebeyondcancer.com or call our Helplines – 8691000800 / 8691000801

 

Views are personal. The author, Anil Ahluwalia, is Co-Founder Sanjeevani Life Beyond Cancer, a SABERA Awardee over the past 3 years. Anil is also the Founder & CEO of Samaagam and has been the Head of ESE, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

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Join the discussion 3 Comments

  • Fatema Chopdawala says:

    Awesome congratulations for new gasture sir

  • Sudip Das says:

    Great

  • Navin Kumar Kalra says:

    Thrilled to read rather proud to feel excellent work by sanjeevani…thanks for spreading hope and light through your efforts. By creating team facilities and bringing consciousness in societies God bless u madam Ruby Anil sir and all team members Navin Dr Alka and family congratulate u

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