Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Assam Gas Company (AGC), Duliajan, worth Rs 1.5 crore for a year to provide free treatment to underprivileged cancer-stricken children.
BBCI Director Amal Kotoky and business AGC General Manager Surya Tamuli signed the MoU under Aparajeya, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of the company.
"Around 2.4 lakh children are diagnosed with cancer every year globally. Children belonging to underdeveloped and developing countries have the highest rate of cancer. Only 20 per cent of such children get treatment in India. At BBCI, we can provide treatment to 35 per cent of such children as they cannot afford to continue the treatment because of financial constraints. If more companies like the AGC come forward, we can treat up to 80 per cent of the cancer-stricken children like the developed countries," Kotoky said.
"This is the highest funding made by the AGC underits variousCSR initiatives. I hope this contribution makes a difference in the lives of the cancer-stricken children," Tamuli said.
According to BBCI records, the total number of cancer patients in Assam is 4,443.