Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 31: The SPECT facility was inaugurated at Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology on December 31 in YMCH, Deralakatte, bringing an upgradation to its nuclear medicine facility.
The facility was inaugurated by chief guest Rajmohan Unnithan, Member of Parliament, Kasargod Lok Sabha Constituency. In his inaugural address he said, “A history has been scripted for Yenepoya with the inauguration of the gamma camera with the SPECT facility. I believe it will help Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology treat patients better.”
The programme began with the invocation. Dr Jalaluddin Akbar, HOD, department of surgical oncology welcomed the guests and the gathering. Dr Senthinathan, assistant professor, department of nuclear medicine gave the introductory remarks regarding the Nuclear Medicine facility.
AKM Ashraf, MLA Manjeshwar said in his address, “I used to feel difficult when I saw people of Manjeshwar go to Trivandrum for Cancer treatment. With this SPECT facility inauguration, people of Northern Kerala will also benefit all due to the efforts of Yenepoya for which I am very grateful. I believe that Yenepoya is a university with a humane vision.”
N A Nellikkunnu, MLA Kasargod said, “Inauguration of SPECT facility would provide better healthcare to cancer patients of Coastal Karnataka and Kerala. Yenepoya has been providing services to the needy for decades. Service of Yenepoya to people of Kasargod during the times of Covid-19 will be remembered.”
Dr M Vijayakumar, vice chancellor Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) gave the presidential address. Dr Boney M Paul, AMS, ZIO rendered the vote of thanks. Dr Neha Haswani, assistant professor compered the programme.
About Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology
Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) through its constituent hospital, Yenepoya Medical College Hospital has been serving cancer patients for the last decade at very affordable costs, with its expert team and highly advanced equipment. The establishment of the Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology, supported by Tata Trusts is the new milestone achieved by the University. The institute will make quality cancer treatment and care available for the people of the region which includes coastal Karnataka and North Kerala.
Yenepoya Medical College with 1100 bedded hospital has a cancer center attached to it, functioning since January 2016. The cancer center is a 120 beds ward. It offers community oncology, surgical oncology, medical oncology, haemato oncology, onco-pathology and palliative care. For the past six years, the cancer center has been involved in the screening, early detection and management of cancer patients. The high end treatment facilities such as robotic surgery is offered to all the deserving patients including BPL category. They also have a bone marrow transplant facility since 2018. They are the first to establish such a facility in coastal Karnataka offering their services to the needy.
The university also runs a mobile wellness clinic focusing on early detection of non-communicable diseases including cancer with the support of Rotary International and Rotary Club of Mangaluru. The university wanted to upgrade the treatment facility with the addition of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments. Tata Trusts has supported the Institute with ‘one time’ grant-in-aid in establishing a comprehensive cancer care center in the medical college hospital at their university campus at Deralakatte. The building has six floors with a built in area of about 36,000 sq ft. The center houses two radiotherapy bunkers and one brachytherapy bunker. A TrueBeam radiotherapy machine which can offer a more targeted and precise approach to cancer and minimize damage to healthy tissues resulting in fewer complications and time saving and a brachytherapy machine with necessary accessories have been installed and commissioned. The building also has a separate facility including PET CT Scanner, often considered as the one stop solution for nuclear medicine cancer imaging with an all body evaluation and radioisotope therapy. In addition, a 10 bedded day care facility for administering chemotherapy has been established. The whole project has been executed by Tata Trusts through Alamelu Charitable Foundation.
Upgradation of Nuclear Medicine Facility in Zulekha Yenepoya Institute of Oncology
Yenepoya (deemed to be University) has installed SPECT equipment, which is used for studying thyroid, kidney, bone, heart, etc, by using radioisotopes. The same machine will be commissioned soon. The nuclear medicine facility also has low dose radioiodine therapy used for treating certain thyroid diseases. Within 3 months, the university is planning to add high dose radioiodine therapy, making the nuclear medicine department as one stop solution for all requirements in the field of nuclear medicine.