Pulwama, July 31: The Civil Society of Shopian has warmly welcomed the central government’s decision to establish a Day Care Cancer Centre (DCCC) in the southern district of Kashmir, terming it a much-needed step toward improving healthcare access in the region.Shopian is among six districts in Jammu and Kashmir selected for the establishment of these specialized cancer treatment facilities. The other districts include Jammu, Samba, Reasi, Ramban, and Kishtwar. In total, 200 such centres have been approved for being set up across the country under the initiative aimed at strengthening oncology care at the grassroots level.Magray Mansoor, a prominent member of the Civil Society Shopian, hailed the move and said the facility is the need of the hour.“We wholeheartedly welcome this decision. A Day Care Cancer Centre in Shopian will greatly ease the burden on patients who require regular treatment sessions over an extended period,” he said. Mansoor said that such a facility will provide considerable relief to patients by minimizing the need to travel long distances for chemotherapy and follow-up procedures.“Access to local cancer care will not only reduce the financial strain but also offer psychological comfort to patients and their families,” he added.Another civil society representative, Mohammad Yaqoob Gatoo, noted that Shopian’s remote location and challenging connectivity, especially during winters, make this facility even more vital.“Shopian is a far-flung district in South Kashmir. The establishment of a cancer care centre here will benefit not only residents of the district but also patients from Rajouri and Poonch, who frequently travel to Kashmir via the Mughal Road for medical treatment,” he said. The Civil Society has expressed hope that the centre will be established without delay and will be equipped with modern infrastructure and skilled personnel to serve the growing number of cancer patients in the district’s 268 villages.
