With music, testimonies, Nagaland Cancer Survivors observe thanksgiving

November 13, 2023 33 Views No Comment

Kohima, November 13 (MExN): With music, testimonies, and prayers, a large number of cancer survivors participated in a prayer cum thanksgiving programme jointly organised by Cancer Survivors Fellowship (CSF) and Putuonuo Hospital, Kohima, on November 11.

Out of 80 attendees, more than half were cancer survivors, accompanied by caregivers, doctors from NHAK and Putuonuo, nurses, and other professionals closely working in various oncology-associated departments, informed a press release from Putuonuo Hospital.

Survivors came from Tuensang, Mokokchung, Wokha, Phek, Pfutsero, Dimapur, Chümoukedima, Viswema, Jotsoma, Meriema, Tsiesama, and Kohima to attend the thanksgiving.

According to the release, the youngest among the attendees was a 6-year-old boy with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia on maintenance chemotherapy, and a 16-year-old girl with thyroid cancer, currently cancer-free. The oldest attendee was an octogenarian.

Chairing the programme, former Chief Secretary & current Lokayukta Nagaland, Banuo Z Jamir, who is also a cancer survivor, shared her testimony as well as a brief history about the CSF which was constituted in March 2002 by a group of survivors under the initiative of Padma Shree Neidono Angami.

Testimonies and words of encouragement were shared by Imtimenla and long-term CSF member, Phillip Kent, who urged fellow survivors to overcome fear with faith, the release said.

The thanksgiving programme was celebrated through music by survivor Zonuo, singer-songwriter Mengu Suokhrie, and Music Minister City Church Kohima, Pelesano Meru.

Dr Botoholi, Associate Pastor, Sumi Baptist Church Kohima, blessed the meeting with prayer.

In her closing remarks and vote of thanks, Dr Keduovinuo Keditsu, Consultant Cancer Surgeon, Putuonuo Hospital, noted that a proactive lifestyle and positive thinking enhance healing from cancer, reflecting on her years of experience.

The vast ongoing cancer research falls short of explaining all the variations in human response to treatment, and some miraculous outcomes of cancer therapy can only be explained by divine intervention, she added.