We all know that cancer is a dreaded diagnosis. It has destroyed many families and relationships. RLJH , a pioneer
in rural healthcare has been tackling this deadly malady since many decades. It has dedicated departments of
Radiation, Surgical and Medical Oncology since long.
The World health organization (WHO) has declared this year’s theme as ‘Health for all’ and the theme for World
cancer day is ‘ Close the care gap’ , which means no one should be deprived of cancer care. In a district like Kolar,
patients face many challenges such as lack of knowledge about prevention and treatment of cancer, inaccessibility
to health care due to distance and ignorance of government health schemes.
On 18 th February, 2024, RLJH organized a ‘motorcycle rally’ to bring about awareness. The Bangalore Tusker
chapter of ‘ HOG’ riders of the Harley Davidson group along with Indian Cancer Society(ICS) took part in this
awareness campaign. The rally was flagged off at the Kolar OPD AT 8 am and reached the SDUMC campus at
8:45am. The riders held placards that read messages such as ‘ cancer is preventable’, ‘ smoking causes cancer’,
‘meet your doctor for regular screening’, ‘vaccines can prevent cancer’, ‘quit tobacco’ , in both languages of
Kannada and English. Pamphlets describing prevention and treatment were distributed en-route to the pedestrians
and on-lookers by the Indian Cancer Society, an NGO. A total of 41 bikes and 88 people participated in this
awareness campaign.
The riders said it was an exhilarating experience to be part of this awareness campaign. Mr. Devaraj, the co-
ordinator of the group and an advocate, said it was a privilege to be involved in educating rural masses regarding
health. Mr. Arokiaraj thanked all the healthcare workers for the wonderful work which is going on in the hospital.
A few of the bikers who had themselves lost family members and friends to cancer appreciated this initiative. The
ICS commented that it is the need of the hour to educate rural population regarding this malady. The police who
attended this programme lauded the efforts of the organisers and hospital. The Department of Oncology and the
NSS wing of the hospital thanked all the participants wholeheartedly.