For Haj Pilgrims 2011: Cancer Awareness program

Dr. Gaurav Gupta speaking at the Haj House. This was the 194th Cancer awareness program held by us.

The Intazamia Committee of the Haj Pilgrims 2011, headed by the Shahar Kazi Dr. Ishrat Ali, and other members invited the doctors from the Indore Cancer Foundation to participate in a Cancer Awareness Program, our 194th so far... Dr. Gaurav Gupta and Dr. Digpal Dharkar spoke to nearly 2000 intently interested listeners, men, women and children. The crowd, gathered from 31 districts were on the way for the Holy pilgrimage. The message was relayed on loud speakers across the length and breadth of the Haj house at Indore on October 29th. The program went on till 8 P. M. A one minute film shown at the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation annual gala at New York last month, was also shown to the audience.

The gathering was told that 30% cancers are preventable by life style modification. Plenty of exercises, low fat diet and regular check up are the key to remain healthy.

Doctors also enjoyed the camaraderie and a sumptuous meal with the Haj pilgrims.

Amravati Cancer foundation makes progress

September 15: 2011, The first national conference on updates in Maxillofacial and head and neck surgery was held at the Amravati Cancer Foundation, an organization which works under the technical guidance of Indore Cancer Foundation. The event was a success thanks to the untiring efforts of Dr. Rajinder Singh Arora, Surgical Oncologist who has conceptualized the Amravati Cancer Foundation, and Dr. D. G. Adwani leading maxillofacial surgeon.

Shri Devi Singh Shekhawat, Husband of President of India Hon'ble Smt. Pratibha Patil was the Chief Guest at the Amravati Cancer Foundation function. He is seen sitting intently discussing with Dr. Dgpal Dharkar.

Husband of the President of India and first Mayor of Amravati city, Shri Devi Singh Shekhawat was the Chief Guest at the function. He said that he is making efforts with the Government of India to help NGO's such as Amravati Cancer Foundation, working in the field of cancer for charity, to get more funds from Central Government.
The Amravati Cancer Foundation works under indirect technical support of the Indore Cancer Foundation.

On September 16, Dr. Digpal Dharkar discussed the growth possibilities of both the Amravati Cancer Foundation and Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology Indore cancer foundation, with Shri Devi Singh Shekhawat at a lunch meeting at the Circuit House Amravati.

Dr. Dharkar was accompanied in the Amravati trip by Dr. Amit Joshi and Dr. Gaurav Gupta. The two young doctors from ICF also focused on popularizing the two upcoming events at Indore.
(Photo courtesy Dr. Mrs. Nita Arora, Amravati Cancer Foundation)

Board of working trustees reconstituted

The Board of Working Trustees of the Indore cancer Foundation was reconstituted with a new three year term. The following are the members:
Mr. Mahendra Sethia, Dr. Govind Sharma, Mr. KL Mamnani, Dr. Vasundhara Kalewar, Mr. Viren Mehrotra, Dr. Baldev Dembani, Mr. Dhananjay Mithe Col. IM Malhotra Mr. Ram Agarwal, Dr. Ravi Soni, Dr. Riaz Siddique, Mr. Sanjay Patel, Mr. Satish Dagaonkar, Mr. Sriniwas Joshi, Mr. Sudhir Bapat Col. US Datey and Mr Yogendra Jha.

Picture of the meeting chaired by Shri M R Sivaraman, IAS retd, former Union Revenue Secretary and member of the board of permanent trustees.

In a meeting held on September  23, 2011 at the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology  chaired by Shri M R Sivaraman, the  film that was to be shown at the NDMF annual gala on September 25 was previewed. Members appreciated the logo of the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology that has been conceptualised by  Mr  Deepesh Nair and improvised by  Mr Vivek Bhavsar. The animation film was made by gate 6 through the efforts of Jitendra Puri.

Mr. Sivaraman donated 6 beds for the hospice in memory of his late mother M. S. Sithalaxmi.

Vision Narmada Holds Program at Bhopal With ICF Team

Vision Narmada, a NGO that works on life styles and its impact on health, arranged a program at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Administrative Academy at Bhopal on September 12, 2011. The program was coordinated by Mrs Lina Parshuram.

A 3 member team from ICF, Dr. Digpal Dharkar, Dr. Amit Joshi and Dr. Gaurav Gupta participated. An informed audience took part in the activity which had several seakers which included, Dr. Digpal Dharkar on impact of life style on cancer prevention, Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Mrs. Beenu Lamba, Mr. N. L. Shivhare Guidance and student counsellor Ms. Vyom, Mr. Anand Payasi, Principal Secretary Retd. Vidhan Sabha Chaired the activity. The program was well attended and ended with a question answer session.
(Text and pic: Dr Gaurav Gupta.)

PADMA-KESHAV CHARITABLE TRUST’S DONATION FOR CONSTRUCTION

It was the beginning of a new dawn, in a development that came close on the heels of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the centre for advanced radiation oncology, the Padma-Keshav Charitable Trust of Indore  agreed to provide Rupees Seventy lakh towards the construction of this centre. The donation is being given as a respectful homage to HH Sant Kirpal Singhji Maharaj and the centre will be known as the Kirpal Cancer Centre.

This donation has come at just the right time. We had to go ahead with the construction of the centre because the Siddharth linear accelerator is to be delivered by the year end. However, the estimated cost of construction of Rs. 85 00 000/- was beyond our means and we were hoping to find a donor. So, the Padma-Keshav Trust has come as godsend.

The synergy from the collective wisdom of the Padma-Keshav Trust and the Indore Cancer Foundation found fruition in one more important area. The dream of developing a hospice took shape with the Padma-Kehav Trust offering to support in full, the construction of such a facility at the Indian Institute of Head and Neck Oncology. To be known as ‘Kirpalaya’, the design and concept is being carefully drafted by the Patron Trustee of the Padma-Keshav Trust. The Foundation would request Dr. LJ Desouza to be ‘advisor for life’ of this humanitarian project where care would be provided to terminally ill cancer patients. Keeping in mind the fact that most  prefer to spend their last days within the familiar surroundings of their homes, great importance would be attached to giving home care training to the family members so that they are able to look after the patient. The Foundation would also offer palliative care training to doctors and para-medical staff from the rural areas.

FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY BY SHRI JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA OF THE CENTRE FOR ADVANCED RADIATION ONCOLOGY

On 25th June, 2010, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Government of India, visited the Indian Institute of Head & Neck Oncology of the Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable Trust.  He had come at our invitation to lay the foundation stone for the centre coming up for the Siddharth linear accelerator that will be gifted to us by the end of this year by SAMEER, Department of Information Technology, Government of India.

Shri Scindia spent one hour at our Institute.  He was welcomed with flowers by young cancer patients Shweta and Monica. Shri Scindia was introduced to the staff, volunteers, patients and other visitors.

After laying the foundation stone for the centre, Shri Scindia also inaugurated the minor operation theatre and in patients’ wards that have been equipped with the help of the grant given by the Steel Authority of India Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Mr. Sanjay Singh & Mr. Jhumke represented SAIL on the occasion.

Mr. Scindia saw a short presentation on the activities of the Foundation. During his speech, Mr. Scindia congratulated the staff of the institute for ensuring that it was clean and cheerful. In response to the expressions of gratitude for his key role in the sanctioning of the Siddharth linear accelerator to the Institute, Mr. Scindia said that it was a just recognition of the Institute's good work and said that he would continue to support this project.

Mr. Scindia’s visit came to an end after he planted a 'neem' sapling.

The software team of the National Cancer Registry Programme, Indian Council of Medical Research, has developed a Hospital Based Cancer Registry - Data Management - Software application programme for use by cancer centres, individual oncologists or pathologists involved in oncology.

The Indian Institute of Head & Neck Oncology has agreed to participate in the trials of this software that should commence soon after formalities are completed.

Since inception, the Institute has maintained detailed patient data; this new development is likely to ensure that our institute statistics are included in the national data on cancer.

Mrs. Geeta Khale, New York, a regular donor and a very committed well wisher of ICF, passed away on 14th September in New York. Apart from having left money to the Foundation in the joint will with her husband, Mrs. Khale had also wished that instead of sending flowers for her funeral, her friends and family should send that money as donation to the Indore Cancer Foundation. The first such donation was received on 25th of September 2010. The Honorary Secretary says, “She was the epitome of “giving” to make others happy. The Indore Cancer Foundation was dear to her heart and the recent developments made her eyes shine. We have decided to pay homage to her and other well wishers of the Foundation by creating a ‘Shradhanjali Sthal’. A banyan tree will be planted there, so future generations and patients & their relatives can pay homage to those who have helped build the Foundation.”

Ms. Priya Dutt Visits The Indore Cancer Foundation

On our invitation, Ms. Priya Dutt, Member of Parliament from Mumbai & trustee of the Nargis Dutt Memorial Charitable Trust, visited the Indore Cancer Foundation for the day on 22nd March 2010.

Speaking to the media post the presentation session, Ms. Dutt expressed a wish to help the Indore Cancer Foundation and said she felt that there was no need for cancer patients to go anywhere as good treatment was available in places like the Foundation. It was the cost effective treatment and extensive out reach programmes that impressed her, she added.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Messrs. SN Khandelwal & Arshad Rashid.

On her way back, as a detour, she saw the exquisite collection of vintage cars of Shri Sharad Sanghi, Permanent Trustee of the Foundation.

She also visited the Mission Hospital, Indore, in order to meet some of the poor patients being treated by the dedicated surgical team of the Foundation.

The last programme on her agenda was a meeting with the members of the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Ms. Priya Dutt with the staff of Institute "Good luck to you Ms. Priya Dutt and do visit us again."

Ms. Dutt’s visit brought a new charge to the employees and volunteers, joy to the patients and their relatives and a powerful, new ray of hope to our nascent institute.

"Being Human" – The Salman Khan Foundation

"Being Human" -The Salman Khan Foundation sent a donation of Rupees Three lakh towards the purchase of an auto analyser. In their letter, they said that health care is an area so large that is impossible to address the issue single handedly. And also that the Salman Khan Foundation is in its infancy and as they grow they look to increasing their association with the Indian Institute of Head & Neck Oncology.

Vatsala & Narayan Bhouraskar Public Charitable Trust Merged Into The Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable Trust

On 30th March 2010, the Vatsala & Narayan Bhouraskar Public Charitable Trust was merged into the Indore Cancer Foundation Charitable (ICFCT) by the formal signing of documents to this effect by Mr. CR Bhouraskar, Chairman & Nominee Representative for the Bhouraskar Trust, and Mr. Ashok Chitale, Chairman & Nominee Representative of ICFCT.

	Mr. CR Bhouraskar & Mr. AK Chitale signing the merger documents

With this merger, the Foundation is now the owner of all the movable and immovable assets of the Bhouraskar Trust. The reason for the merger was the Bhouraskar Trust's thinking that the Foundation was best equipped to fulfill the dreams of late Dr. Shalini Bhouraskar, when she set up the Bhouraskar Trust in the memory of her parents.

On its part the Board of Permanent Trustees of the Foundation has resolved that the names of Dr. Shalini Bhouraskar and her parents Shri Narayan & Smt. Vatsala Bhouraskar would be gratefully acknowledged in some prominent activity of the Foundation, that the name of Dr. Shalini Bhouraskar would be prominently displayed at the house that has now come to the Foundation and that any cancer patient referred by the present trustees of Bhouraskar Trust would be extended all possible special favour/concession.

SAIL

In January 2010, the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) agreed to give a grant of up to Rupees Twenty one lakh fifty nine thousand only for the purchase of equipment for our in-patients' wards, a minor operation theatre and a generator. During discussions, the suppliers were requested to give special rates in view of the charitable objectives of the Institute and we were, thus, able to get all the equipment within Rs. 19 lakh thereby saving SAIL some money!

As of 30th June 2010:

• more than 194 cancers camps have been held where more than 125 647 high risk patients were examined. The first camp was conducted in January 1989.
• more than 2105 free operations were performed; this is data from the year 2000 onwards only as the earlier data is not available.
• radiotherapy treatment has been offered to 3806 patients of which 1248 were treated completely fee while charges were partially waived off for 906 patients. The first radiotherapy patient was treated on 15.8.1995.
• the dharamshala facility has been availed off by more than 566 families while undergoing their 6 weeks of radiotherapy treatment at our Institute. This subsidized accommodation opened its doors to patients in June 2000.
• 306 Below Poverty Line cancer patients have been treated under the Rajya Bimari Sahayata Nidhi of the Madhya Pradesh government. We received the recognition to treat patients under this scheme in May 2006.
• cancer awareness talks have been given at 11 training programmes conducted by the Kshetriya Grameen Vikas Kendra for Panchayat members. This session was included in their programmes from March this year and 84 Sarpanch, 95 Panch and 140 Janpad members have participated in the 11 programmes.
• the weekly OPDs for Ophthalmology had benefited 16 patients (these patients are seen free of charge by Dr. Koolwal of the Dr. P.S. Hardia Advance Eye Surgery & Research Institute); Dentistry - 61 patients (The dental chair was donated by the Ramawat family in the memory of their father Late Shri Vijay Ramawat); Physiotherapy - 16 patients; Nutrition - 41 patients.
• day care for supportive care & chemotherapy has been offered to 115 patients.
• routine tests required prior to radiotherapy planning (blood tests, sonography, ECG) can now be conducted at the Institute itself. This facility was started in August 2009.

Visitors:

This year has brought us a lot of VISITORS. In addition to the visits of Ms. Priya Dutt and Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia, we were also fortunate in being able to welcome Doctor Nagraj Huilgol (twice), Dr. R. Gopal (twice), Dr. LJ DeSouza and Dr. Shyam Shrivastava. The visits from doctors are always a double bonus because it not only works as a morale booster as all visits do but their visits provide us with an opportunity for peer review.