from Divvy Kant Upadhyay
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Oct 26: Asha, a cancer survivor for more than 21 years who has helped many a cancer patient to cope with the hardships and fight the dreaded illness lighted the traditional yet symbolic lamp at the inauguration of the 7th National Conference of the Foundation for Head and Neck Oncology (FHNO) at the TMA Pai International Convention centre here on Thursday October 25 evening.

Ananth Krishna, chairman of the Karnataka Bank, was chief guest of the occasion. He called for doctors to treat cancer patients with passion as the common man generally hears of the treatment of cancer being more painful than the disease process itself. 

Dr Ashok Shenoy, the president of the FHNO delivering the presidential address stressed on cure and rehabilitation going hand in hand for the benefit of the cancer patients in our country. Citing the example of Anna Hazare making his village absolutely free of alcohol and smoking, the FHNO president called for stronger societal change to fight against the cancer causing addictions of smoking and drinking.

Also lamenting the ills of these addictions, former state minister Dr VS Acharya, encouraged the surgeons in their endeavors but at the same time stressed that the "amount of time, efforts and resources put into care of patients with terminal illness doesn't actually end up with satisfactory long term symptom free survival." 

Dr HS Ballal , pro-chancellor of the Manipal University remembered the visionary the late Dr TMA Pai as "a genius who could think much ahead of his time". Citing his example Dr Ballal encouraged doctors of today and tomorrow to imbibe such creative and productive thinking capabilities so as to help the nation march ahead. Dr Ballal lauded the efforts of the doctors of this region as the health indices of Dakshina Kannada and Udipi were very good compared to national and international levels. 

Considered the doyen of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery and Hon Surgeon to the President of India, Padmashri Professor S Kameswaram was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Karavali Branch of the Association of Otorhinolaryngologists of India. Other eminent surgeons felicitated at the function with Lifetime Achievement Awards were Mumbai surgeon Dr Pilloo Parvez Hakim and Thiruvantapuram surgeon Prof Rajamma Rajan. 

Dr Kishore Chandra Prasad, head of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery at KMC Mangalore, the chief organizer, welcomed the dignatories and the gathering. KMC Dean Dr CV Raghuveer released the souvenir. KMC vice-dean Dr Venkatraya Prabhu and MCODS vice-dean Dr Dilip Nayak were present at the function.