By Nava Thakuria
Russian President Vladimir Putin, while speaking at a recent function in Moscow, announced that his country was waiting for the launch of cancer vaccines. Putin, globally condemned for invasion on Ukraine resulting many casualties and enormous property damages, announced that significant progress has been made by the Russian scientific fraternity to develop the important vaccines.
The hardliner Russian leader expressed optimism that they have almost reached a significant phase for developing cancer vaccines and immunomodulatory drugs. He also hoped that these advancements will transition the way to approach the health disaster, but Putin did not reveal any specific information about the type of cancer vaccines, he mentioned.
Needless to say, many countries across the globe, including Bharat, have been working to find the effective cancer medicine and also vaccines for decades. World Health Organization (WHO) in its report confirmed the availability of at least six licensed vaccines targeting human papillomaviruses (HPV, that causes cervical cancer) and hepatitis B (that may lead to liver cancer).
Incidentally cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world, where as it’s ranked as the most frequent cancer among Indian women. To fight against this type of cancer, Indian scientists had launched Cervavac as a preventive measure to save many lives. The vaccine is developed indigenously after rigorous research, clinical trials and necessary regulatory approvals. The central government also committed its support for the cervical cancer vaccination process.
Cancer is almost a curse in our society. Numerous Assamese plays, cinemas, stories and media articles have depicted the cancer as the other name of deaths. So if any individual is diagnosed with cancer, irrespective of its stages, the family instantly presume a dark future for the patient.
But the doctors always encourage the patients to face the disease bravely. They argue that with early detection and proper treatment, cancer can be cured if the patient adopts medication regularly with a positive mind enriched by physical activities.
India continues to increase the number of cancer affected families. Now the projected number of cancer cases in India is estimated to be 15.7 lakh by next year. Northeast is also not legging behind, as our region increases cancer cases every year and by 2025 it may witness another 57,131 new cases.
Indian Council of Medical Research reported that our region faces a high burden of cancer compared to other parts of the country. The highest cancer incidence rate among the males was recorded in Aizawl and among females in Papumpare.
The tobacco-related cancer cases remain higher in the region. Any comprehensive vaccine for cancer will be a priceless gift for 60 million people living in the region, adjacent to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Often cancer is also termed as a huge global scam as many believe that the scientists have the capability to develop a comprehensive cancer vaccine, but they are being prevented by the beneficiaries of the scam including the pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, concerned doctors and others.
Once the vaccination process becomes feasible and effective, those beneficiaries would lose their business empire accounting a huge sum of money. Now Putin, who has already earned the name & fame as an autocratic and arrogant leader, has declared the invention of cancer vaccine by the Russian scientists, it may change the entire global healthcare scenario.
Like many other politicians in power, Putin may not bother about the complications he would face after the invention and marketing of cancer vaccines. Putin now desperately wants to improve his image from a villain to a humanitarian crusader. If at all the Russian cancer vaccine comes out as a reality, he will be the beneficiary number one in the process.
Nonetheless, an inclusive cancer vaccine should emerge out of all difficulties and complexities so that human sufferings from the disease can be minimised if not completely erased.
