NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 19
Chairperson of the city-based Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta, who made outstanding contribution to cancer care for over six decades, died of heart attack in the early hours on Tuesday.
She complained of chest pain and was rushed to a hospital where she died during treatment after an angiogram revealed blocks in her arteries, an official of the institute, with which she was associated with since 1955. She was awarded Magsaysay Award for her contribution in Cancer research and service to humanity.
Tamil Nadu government accorded ”police honours” during the funeral to honour the selfless service of Dr. Shanta, who hailed from a family of Nobel laureates, Sir C V Raman and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
“Dr Shanta was experiencing chest pain and we took her to a hospital last night. Angiogram procedure was done and we were told that she has blocks. During the treatment, she suffered a heart attack and died at 3.35 am,” an official of the institute said.
Hundreds of people, including health care workers of the institute, paid their last respects to Shanta as her body was kept for homage at the old building of the institute in Adyar.
Later, her body was taken in a huge procession and cremated with “police honours” at Besant Nagar. The Cancer Institute (Womens’ Indian Association-WIA) is a public charitable voluntary institute dedicated to the care of cancer.
Along with Dr S Krishnamurthi, son of Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman in the country to graduate in medicine in 1912, Shanta played a pivotal role in developing the Cancer Institute from a cottage hospital of 12 beds to a major comprehensive centre of national and international stature. The institute is popular among the people for its cancer care for the poor. Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, and leaders of all political parties including DMK president M K Stalin, condoled her death besides healthcare professionals and the public.
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Cancer Institute chairperson V Shanta passes away in Chennai
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said he was shocked and grieved by her death. He lauded her unparalleled commitment and dedication to cancer patients and the Cancer Institute. “Her demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Tamil Nadu and particularly to the medical fraternity and poor cancer patients,” Purohit said.
மக்கள் மனதில் நீங்கா இடம்பிடித்த மருத்துவர் வி.சாந்தா அவர்களின் புகழுக்கு பெருமைசேர்க்கும் வகையிலும், அவரது தன்னலமற்ற சேவையை கௌரவிக்கும் விதமாகவும் அன்னாரின் இறுதி சடங்குகளின் போது காவல்துறை மரியாதையுடன் நல்லடக்கம் செய்ய உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளேன்.
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) January 19, 2021
Palaniswami said Shanta earned a place in the hearts of people not only in the state but across the country through her selfless services. “Dr Santa’s death is a huge, irreparable loss to healthcare and Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said recalling late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had honoured her with ”Avvaiyar” Award for her services.
அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனை தலைவர் டாக்டர் வி. சாந்தா அவர்கள் உடல்நலக்குறைவால் மறைந்தார் என்ற செய்தி கேட்டு வேதனையுற்றேன். மருத்துவ உலகிற்குப் பேரிழப்பு!
ஏழைகளும் புற்றுநோய்க்கு எளிதில் சிகிச்சை பெற அர்ப்பணிப்புடன் உழைத்தவர்.
அவரை இழந்து வாடும் அனைவருக்கும் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்! pic.twitter.com/RgcaScmaNV
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) January 19, 2021
Stalin showered praise on Dr Shanta saying she worked all her life for providing quality cancer care for the poor, ordinary, and all other sections of the society. Her stellar work won her a string of awards from both within the country and abroad.
#shantha #RIPShantha #HomagetoDrShantha #Cancer #CentreOfExcellence #adyarcancerhospital #chennai #DrShantha #RIP I have been closely associated with Dr. SHANTHA’s work much before I became the TN Health Minister in 1980. She will always be an immortal legend. Tks @narendramodi https://t.co/OygUFhRuw6 pic.twitter.com/8T9ndQKVPU
— Dr. H. V. Hande (@DrHVHande1) January 19, 2021
She was on the World Health Organisation’s Advisory Committee on cancer till March 2005.
