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Thane to have a new cancer hospital & hostel
Shardul Nautiyal - Mumbai
A 200-bed cancer hospital to be funded and constructed by NGO Cancer Aid Foundation
(CAF), is coming up in Kausa – Mumbra region of Thane district. The hospital
campus would house a diagnostic centre, along with a hostel for patients and
their relatives.
Says Asif Khan, spokesperson, CAF, “The need for the hospital was realised
as the facility for cancer hospitalisation is minimal in the city of Mumbai.
Because of shortage of space and beds, hospitals in the city are unable to attend
the huge volume of cancer patients.”
CAF is in the process of acquiring land for the proposed
hospital and hostel on Kausa - Mumbra road. According to an official of CAF,
“The foundation is now looking for sponsors willing to help build the proposed
infrastructure.”
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The need for the hospital was realised as the facility
for cancer hospitalisation is
minimal in the city of Mumbai. Because of shortage of space and beds,
hospitals in the city are unable to attend the huge volume of cancer patients
Prof A A Kazi
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The construction of the cancer hospital would happen in three
phases. Phase one will have the construction of a diagnostic centre with an
estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The centre will be spread over 6.5 acres of land.
Phase II will construct a 100 bed hospital at a cost of about Rs 20 crore. Phase
III will construct 100 plus beds at a cost of about Rs 25 crore. The cancer
patient’s hostel would cost Rs six-crore.
CAF is an NGO registered under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 founded in the
year 2000. Prof A A Kazi founded it with a group of good samaritans, in the
wake of tragic death of his mother, who succumbed to cancer. The Foundation
was set up in his residence and started the noble cause of treating cancer patients
with an initial donation of Rs 25,000. The committee comprises nine members
with Prof A A Kazi as the chairman of the committee. Prof Jan Skolyszewski,
director, Centre of Oncology, Krakow, Poland, H M Dalwai, former member of Parliament
and Ex Chairman, Minority Commission of Maharashtra, Mumbai. P Rhys Evans, consultant,
head, neck and thyroid surgeon, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, U K, Zafar
Saifullah, former cabinet secretary, Government of India, New Delhi are the
patrons of the foundation.
CAF provides monetary help to the needy cancer patients, rents free accommodation
in Mumbai to poor outstation cancer patients, arranges for return railway fare
to poor outstation patients. In 2003-2004, the foundation helped 102 poor cancer
patients by spending Rs 15 lakh. During the current year, the amount of medical
help by CAF is likely to cross Rs one crore.
The foundation has also started giving prescribed medicines of chemotherapy
to poor cancer patients through authorised chemists. The medicines are available
to them round the clock on any day of the week. “We are now thinking of
starting our own chemist shop so that profit earned can be ploughed back for
poor cancer patients,” says the official.
Free projection of films on cancer awareness in schools and institutions is
also a part of CAFs exercise to eliminate cancer from the society. CAF has also
started cancer helpline at the following number- 022- 2300 5000.
shardulnautiyal@rediffmail.com
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