Bargarh: In a major stride toward strengthening rural healthcare, a district-level Continuing Medical Education (CME) program focusing on childhood cancer was held on Sunday at the conference hall of the Bargarh Community Health Centre (CHC).
The initiative aimed to equip doctors and healthcare workers with essential skills for the early detection, timely referral, and effective management of childhood cancer — a critical yet often neglected area in rural healthcare.
The program was inaugurated by Dr. Kuber Chandra Mahanta, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Bargarh, who emphasised the importance of targeted training in improving pediatric cancer outcomes in rural regions. “This initiative will empower medical professionals at the grassroots level to better handle complex pediatric cases,” he said.
The event witnessed the presence of several eminent pediatric hemato-oncologists, including Dr. Saroj Panda (SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar), Dr. Palash Das (KIMS Hospital), Dr. Debasish Sahoo (AIIMS Bhubaneswar), and Dr. Nirmalya Deb (Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Bhubaneswar).
Prominent pediatricians from Vikash Multi Speciality Hospital — Dr. Arjuna Meher and Dr. Ashish Satpathy — along with Dr. Amit Bhoi, also contributed to the discussion.
In an interactive session, the experts highlighted delayed diagnosis and low awareness as the two biggest challenges in childhood cancer management. They stressed the need for continuous training and robust referral systems to ensure timely intervention.
Ashwini Kumar Darji, Chairman of the Fighters Group Trust — the organising body — stated, “Our goal is to create a sustainable and replicable model for childhood cancer care at the district level.”
Medical professionals from both government and private institutions, CHC superintendents, and officers from across the Bargarh district actively participated in the event.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Fighters Group General Secretary Asima Bishoi.
