Stepping up on their campaign to make Jharkhand the first cervical cancer free state in the country through women empowerment, particularly rural women, Women Doctor’s Wing, IMA, Jharkhand, in association Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department, Govt of Jharkhand and Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, today organised a Mega Women Health Camp for Breast and Cervical Cancer Eradication, at the Sadar Hospital, Deoghar.
Minister, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department, Banna Gupta along with his spouse, Sudha Gupta, inaugurated the Mega Women Health Camp. The Health Minister further dedicated Cervical Pre Cancer testing and screening equipment newly installed at Sadar Hospital, Deoghar to the people of the region.
Dr. Sahajanand Prasad Singh, former President, along with Dr. Anilkumar Jaydev Nayak, National Secretary, Indian Medical Association were the Guests of Honour. Also present on the occasion was Dr. Megha Mittal, eminent obstetrician and gynaecologist, Max Hospital, Saket, Delhi, Manjunath Bhajantari, deputy commissioner, Deoghar and others.
“The state government remains fully committed to contain the menace of cervical and breast cancer in Jharkhand. Very soon, we shall introduce a mass immunisation programme through proper vaccines to reduce the impact of cervical cancer. Programmes are also underway to reduce the incidence of breast cancer as well,” the Health Minister told the gathering while inaugurating the Mega Women Health Camp at the Sadar Hospital in Deoghar, today.
Dr. Bharti Kashyap, Chairperson, Women Doctors’ Wing, Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand, revealed that in India, around 67,000 women die of cervical cancer each year. When diagnosed, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.
“Over the past 9 years, to tackle the menace of cervical cancer, Women Doctors’ Wing, Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand, has been organising Mega Women Health Camps, throughout the rural areas across Jharkhand. in 2021, partnered the state government to formulate with a multi-pronged cost effective strategy “Jharkhand Model” under which it was suggested to mandatorily screen at least 6 per cent women in reproductive age group who are in high risk category of cervical cancer or have symptoms suggestive of pelvic inflammatory disease, a major cause of cervical cancer and offer comprehensive treatment. Besides we suggested compulsory screening of all women, along with their female companions, turning up after 12 weeks at state Sadar Hospitals for post-delivery check-ups,” Dr.Bharti Kashyap said.
We are grateful to the state health minister and the state health department which accepted our recommendations in full and has fixed annual cervical cancer screening targets for all state run Sadar Hospitals in Jharkhand, she added
This screening of a targeted group of six per cent women of reproductive age enabled the state health department to screen one hundred per cent women in the reproductive age group, suffering from cervical disease. We ensured that 100 per cent of women, identified with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease or test positive and suspicious for cancer, receive proper treatment and referral.
“A big win for Women Doctors Wing, IMA, Jharkhand, with our very own indigenous Jharkhand Model, now firmly in place, Jharkhand is well on its way to becoming the first cervical cancer free state in India,” Dr.Kashyap stressed.
Notably, around 615 women were screened for cervical and breast cancer symptoms at the Deoghar Camp. Of these around 80 per cent women were found to be suffering from pelvic inflammation. Compared to the number of women having such at the Jamtara Camp, the Deoghar figures were apparently higher. All these women were gifted free Kit 6 tablets to cure infections.
Twenty six women were found to be VUA positive. Another 18 women, who were found to be carrying cervical pre-cancer symptoms, were provided treatment with Colposcpe Guided Cryo machines to cure them of the pre-cancer symptoms.
All women attending the Deoghar camp were given one month’s quota of iron folic acid and calcium tablets, free.
Dr.Megha Mittal and her team also provided training to gynaecologists working with the health department at Deoghar on early detection and treatment of cervical pre-cancer.
