Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC), Visakhapatnam, organised a Cleaning drive and Tobacco audit in and around the campus. The hospital staff participated enthusiastically in the cleaning drive and made the hospital environment plastic and tobacco-free. This is planned on the occasion of World Tobacco Day and the foundation day of HBCHRC.

HBCHRC Vizag team also motivated the nearby shops to stop selling tobacco products. The staff of HBCHRC took a pledge to avoid tobacco use and encourage others to quit tobacco. 

During his speech, Dr Umesh Mahantshetty, Director of HBCHRC Vizag, challenged all the staff to motivate as many people as possible to quit tobacco use.

This program will continue for the next three months till 15 August 2022 to culminate with the 75years Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav. The HBCHRC Vizag team will conduct awareness activities all over Visakhapatanam – schools, colleges, Andhra University campus, various PSU and townships, city government Offices etc. to highlight the hazards of and motivate people to quit tobacco use.

HBCHRC Vizaginvites like-minded organisations to come forward to contribute to this noble endeavour. Change begins with us as individuals and as a community so let us all come together to make India Tobacco Free.

Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam celebrates its Foundation Day on 2 June every year. This year the celebrations started with World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2022 and will end with the Annual Cancer Congress on 14 June 2022.

From a small beginning in a temporary clinic to a state of the art hospital providing cutting edge technology for the benefit of the patients, the hospital has evolved over the years. The core principle guiding the hospital services benefits the patient and provides patient-centred holistic care. The various specialities of the hospital include cancer prevention services, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, palliative care, and an entire team of specialists providing cancer-focused nutritional care, physiotherapy, speech and swallowing therapy, and occupational therapy by experts. The highly specialised individuals in the group ensure that excellent holistic care is provided to the patients.

As part of the Foundation Day celebrations, a sports competition for chess, volleyball, badminton, and carrom open to all levels of staff was held. Arts competitions like rangoli and poster competitions with themes related to WNTD and Environment day were also held.

On the eve of foundation day, HBCHRC Vizag also held an open day for students of various streams like nursing, science and engineering to sensitise them to the cancer care services, technology utilised and introduction to different career opportunities available in cancer care.

On 2 June, activities for the patients are planned. Cancer warriors will share their experiences and motivate other patients to continue their treatments and stay hopeful. The nursing team is geared up to demonstrate the steps of stoma care and care of the blood access devices.

The hospital Foundation day events will conclude with a grand cultural function on 4 June 2022. The chief guest for the program will be Dr K H Prakash (CMD, Vizag Steel plant Hospital). DRaghunadharao Digumarti, founding Director of HBCHRC, will also be felicitated during the function.