Mysuru: In a bid to make Mysuru a cancer-free city in the next five years, KR MLA S.A. Ramdas  launched ‘War Against Cancer’ (WAC) campaign under Arogya Mysuru initiative.

Announcing this at a press meet at Patrakarthara Bhavan here yesterday, Ramdas said that WAC was formally launched in city marking former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary on Dec. 25 last.

Pointing out that he was inspired to launch this initiative after seeing over 5,000 people attend Swasthya Mela programme organised by the Union Government at JK Grounds in city when Vajpayee was the Prime Minister over 15 years ago, Ramdas said he hoped that this initiative will succeed in making Mysuru cancer-free in the next five years.

Noting that he was deeply disturbed by the demise of Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar and several other personalities who died of the dreaded cancer disease, Ramdas said he could never ever forget the sight of the  sufferings of traumatic children at Kidwai Cancer Institute at Bengaluru when he visited the Institute as Medical Education Minister years ago.

Stating that the first health check-up camp under WAC initiative was held at Jayanagar on Dec. 25, in which over 1,300 people underwent health screening, the MLA said that such camps will be held on the first and third Sundays of every month at various centres across the city for the next five years.

Tests such as blood, thyroid, cholesterol, sugar, urine, ECG, etc., will be held during the camp and the patients attending the camp, should bring their Aadhar, Voter ID and BPL cards (if necessary) for registration.

The next camp will be held at Vokkaligara Bhavan in Vidyaranyapuram on Jan. 6 (7.30 am to 2 pm). For details, contact Ph: 0821-2484444/2484477, he said.

Explaining many other initiatives launched by him for ensuring the health of people, Ramdas said the WAC initiative was launched in association with  GSS, Safe-Wheels and Asare organisations.

The WAC has tied up with major hospitals such as Kidwai Cancer Institute, NIMHANS and Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru and other hospitals in Mysuru for necessary guidance and assistance in making the initiative a huge success, Ramdas added.

GSS Foundation Founder Srihari,  Safe Wheels Proprietor B.S. Prashanth, Mysuru District Journalists Association (MDJA)  President C.K. Mahendra and Secretary K.J. Lokesh Babu were present at the press meet.