K-P struggling to treat influx of Afghan patients

Speakers at session say awareness is necessary for early diagnosis

PESHAWAR:

As World Cancer Day was discussed on Wednesday to raise awareness on the deadly disease, doctors and government representatives said the provincial capital is struggling to cope with the increasing number of patients coming in from neighbouring Afghanistan.

According to statistics of Peshawar’s Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), the total number of cancer patients remains unknown, but relevant departments estimate it to be around 0.3 million in the country. Of the total, around 43,585 belong to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with 5,658 being registered in 2014 alone.



These figures were revealed during an awareness session on cancer at IRNUM. Special Secretary to the Chief Minister on Social Welfare Dr Mehar Taj Roghani was present on the occasion besides former home secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah and oncologists.

Over 5,000 patients, mostly from Afghanistan, are registered every year at IRNUM in addition to a considerable number from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“A number of patients from the tribal areas are registered at IRNUM, but over 31% come from neighboring Afghanistan. We receive and treat them just like patients of K-P,” IRNUM Director Dr Muhammad Rauf Khattak told The Express Tribune.

He said although treatment was expensive, philanthropists and IRNUM’s patients’ society are putting all their efforts into minimising the financial restrictions of patients and their relatives. Khattak said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government, along with previous regimes, had extended their complete support for the hospital.

Earlier in his address, Khattak said cancer was responsible for the second largest number of deaths caused by a disease. He stressed it can be treated if diagnosed in its initial stages, adding awareness was a key factor for identification. He said while the exact causes could not be identified, smoking, drinking alcohol, an unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise, viral infection, environmental pollution, hormones and radiation could cause cancer.

“We do lack oncologists, but once Shaukat Khanum Hospital becomes functional in 2015, the burden on hospitals will be reduced. Even then, the government and philanthropists have to do more to help the needy,” Khattak said.

Consultant oncologist Dr Nabila Javed said the total number of patients in K-P could be more than 5,658 as these cases were only registered at IRNUM. She said breast cancer was the leading cause of death among women in K-P. Dr Javed added 32% of the known cancer patients in K-P were women, adding the causes of the disease could involve family, reproductive and menstrual histories as well as genetic factors and obesity.

Dr Mehar Taj Roghani said 40% of the people being treated at Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore belonged to K-P and Afghanistan, adding that was the reason a second hospital was planned in Peshawar.

She said the government has already provided Rs500 million and lauded IRNUM’s efforts to hold awareness sessions about cancer. Roghani said cancer patients would receive free treatment in the province.

Thirteen-year old Maryam, a leukemia survivor from Kabul, said she was very happy to recover.

She said all her treatment was free since her family could not bear the cost. The girl asked philanthropists to donate more so that other lives could be saved.

Meanwhile, former K-P home secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said atomic energy not only played a vital role in the defence of the country, but also the health sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.