Fight against Cancer in Assam: A Joint Effort by Indus Towers, ACCF, and Government of Assam

Guwahati, February 04, 2025: Continuing its commitment to supporting communities, Indus Towers, one of India’s leading telecom infrastructure providers, today announced the commencement of Cancer Care Program in Assam in collaboration with Government of Assam and Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF). The program is launched under Pragati, Indus Towers’ flagship CSR program, with an objective to significantly contribute to the fight against cancer and improve the quality of life for the residents. The program will be undertaken in Jorhat, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Udalguri, Sibasagar and Baksa of Assam.

According to the report by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) published in 2021, the national rate of cancer patients is 97 per lakh population, while it is 114 per lakh population in Assam. In the recent past, Assam has witnessed a significant rise in cancer cases, necessitating urgent and sustained intervention. 70% cases report at stages II or III, with high mortality rate. The new program is designed to tackle this issue head-on by implementing a holistic approach to cancer care, focusing on early detection, community engagement, and continuous support for patients.

The program involves outreach, community screening, training of frontline health workers, awareness and behavior change campaigns, patient navigators and continuum of care. As a part of the program, door-to-door screening will be organized along with referral to health and wellness centers and physical screening for oral cancer by dentist. The program will also facilitate physical screening for cervical and breast cancer by nurses and awareness meetings and focused group discussions including school sensitization.

Rajender Gurung, Circle CEO, NESA, Indus Towers, said, “This initiative is a testament to our dedication to improve the healthcare infrastructure and services in Assam. The need of the hour is to ensure early detection and timely treatment. Our endeavour is to ensure that we reach out to every individual, regardless of their location, enabling access to the best possible cancer care. We believe, that through comprehensive community outreach, training programs for local healthcare professionals, and robust support services, we can create a long-lasting impact on our people.”

Dr (Maj Gen) JP Prasad, COO ACCF said, “ACCF is transforming the cancer landscape of Assam, from preventive to palliative as a continuum of care approach. Thankful to Indus Towers for supporting ACCF Community Outreach Program for 9 districts. With this ACCF is set to reach 1 Crore target population by March 2027, which is launched by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam. This will empower our community in reducing cancer burden in Assam.”