Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 : To commemorate International Childhood Cancer Day, observed on February 15, an Odisha-based NGO, Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative-Odisha (ICCIOdisha), organized a series of events across Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about paediatric cancer through engaging activities, including street plays and musical performances, flagged off by leading paediatric oncologists.

A rally themed ‘Inspiring Actions’ was conducted from Patia Square to Infocity Square, drawing participation from over a dozen organizations such as Fighters Group, SANYOG, and Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre. The event was attended by key figures, including Pritikanta Panda, programme manager of the Odisha State Child Protection Society under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department, alongside representatives from the WCD and health department. Discussions focused on improving access to cancer treatment for children across the state.

“Early detection and timely treatment can cure most paediatric cancer cases,” stated Dr Nirmalya Deo Pradhan, a participating oncologist.

According to reports, Odisha’s highest number of paediatric cancer cases emerge from Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Cuttack, and Jajpur districts, with leukaemia being the most prevalent. AIIMS Bhubaneswar has been recording 250-300 paediatric cancer cases annually since 2018. A study by Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer revealed that childhood malignancies accounted for 1.6% to 2% of all cancer cases between 2013 and 2020. However, the lack of a statewide population-based cancer registry continues to pose challenges in assessing the exact prevalence of childhood cancer in Odisha.

The event concluded with calls for enhanced healthcare policies and improved treatment facilities, including AIIMS Bhubaneswar’s introduction of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.