Page 100 - ACCF - Stories of Resilience

Kokrajhar District

UNITED BY UNIQUE

orld Cancer Day was established in 2000 at the first World Summit Against Cancer, held in Paris. At this summit,
Wthe Charter of Paris Against Cancer was signed by various countries, outlining a cooperative global commitment
to improving the quality of life for cancer patients and advancing cancer research, prevention, and treatment. The charter
formally declared February 4 as World Cancer Day, ensuring it would be globally remembered each year.
World Cancer Day has since grown into a significant global movement, aimed at increasing awareness about cancer.

ADDRESSING ASSAM’S CANCER CRISIS
Assam has an average cancer incidence rate that is double the national average, earning it the title of “Cancer Capital” of India.
To address this crisis, the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) was established in December 2017 as a joint partnership
between the Government of Assam and Tata Trusts. Its objective is to create a first-of-its-kind, patient-centric cancer care
network across the state.

The initiative plans to establish 17 cancer hospitals in Assam. Of these, seven hospitals were inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi on April 28, 2022, in locations including Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Jorhat,
Kokrajhar, and Darrang. Additionally, foundation stones for seven other hospitals were laid in Nagaon, Goalpara, Nalbari,
Golaghat, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Dhubri. Early 2024 also saw the inauguration of the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati and

100 THE HUMAN SPIRIT IS STRONGER THAN ANY DIAGNOSIS