Bhubaneswar: In a moving step toward humanising cancer care, the Cancer Volunteers of Odisha (CVO) on Sunday held its first-ever state-level conference at the Regional College of Management (RCM) in Bhubaneswar. The gathering marked the beginning of a united, volunteer-driven movement to support cancer patients and their families far beyond hospital walls.
Registered as a trust in 2024, Cancer Volunteers of Odisha was born from a shared realisation that cancer care is not limited to medicines or procedures—it is equally about compassion, dignity, emotional strength, and social support. The conference was organised with the objective of bringing together all stakeholders working in cancer care and palliative support, and to build a strong, coordinated community-based response across the state.
One of the most sensitive and thought-provoking discussions of the day focused on the language society uses while referring to cancer. Speakers highlighted how casually using cancer as a metaphor—such as saying “corruption is a cancer in society”—can deeply hurt those living with the disease. The conference strongly advocated for compassionate communication that does not stigmatise or trivialise the lived pain of patients and their families.
The conference witnessed wide participation from cancer specialists, doctors, nurses, healthcare volunteers, social workers, policy thinkers, senior journalists, NGO and CSO representatives, media professionals, social entrepreneurs, cancer patients and family caregivers from different parts of Odisha. United under the theme “Role of Volunteers in Cancer Care,” discussions emphasised the critical role of organized volunteerism in addressing the medical, psychological, social and palliative needs of patients, especially in rural and underserved regions.
A comprehensive and interactive scientific programme explored cancer care beyond hospitals. Sessions focused on strengthening collaboration among NGOs and civil society organisations under the CVO platform, sharing grassroots experiences, and identifying real-life challenges such as late diagnosis, lack of awareness, economic stress, social stigma and gaps in supportive and palliative care.
A key highlight was the in-depth deliberation on understanding the true needs of cancer patients and family caregivers. Speakers underlined that emotional support, counseling, treatment navigation, financial guidance and dignified end-of-life care are often as crucial as medical treatment. Trained and ethical volunteers, they noted, can effectively bridge the gap between hospitals and homes, particularly in districts with limited access to specialized cancer facilities.
The meet also stressed the importance of teamwork, training and coordination among volunteers. Experts called for structured skill-building, ethical practices and mutual collaboration so that volunteers can work efficiently and empathetically. Cancer awareness and advocacy emerged as another major focus area, with discussions on engaging society, media and government for early detection, prevention, patient rights and supportive care policies.
Representatives from 12 NGOs and CSOs across Odisha presented field experiences, offering ground realities of cancer care at the community level. Speakers and experts including senior Journalist Ashok Pradhan and Ashok Das shared insights on emerging cancer trends, responsible communication and the role of community participation in reducing the overall cancer burden.
CVO has been founded by professionals and grassroots workers from diverse fields including oncology, palliative care, social work, IT and media. The founding members include Prof. Dr. Bidhu K. Mohanti, Sukanta Nanda, Nitai G. Panigrahi, Namrata Rath, Aswini Kumar Darjee, Gopal Krushna Das, Lili Jenamani and Raj Gopal Das. The trust envisions building a strong statewide network of committed volunteers working closely with health systems and community organizations.
The core objectives of CVO include promoting organized cancer care volunteerism, improving training and skills through NGO collaboration, and strengthening linkages with society, government institutions, philanthropic organizations and media to enhance non-medical cancer care and support services.
The scientific programme and participant engagement were meticulously coordinated by Sunanda Samal, Jubilee Dash, Dr. Mami Parija, Dr. Nirmalya D. Pradhan, Dr. Rabi S. Das and Subhas Samal, while activity leadership was provided by Sunanda Samal, Minati Pati and Prativa Barik.
