Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 8: In response to the increasing trend of cancer incidence and deaths in India, the State Cancer Institute in Jammu, in collaboration with the Health Department, has launched cancer screening facilities in Jammu District. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) projects that one in every nine Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime. Hospital-based cancer registry data from Jammu reveals a rising number of malignancies in the district, with breast cancer being the most common among females, followed by cervical cancer. Oral cavity cancer is also prevalent among young and middle-aged populations in India.
To address these concerns, the Preventive Oncology Unit of the State Cancer Institute, GMC Jammu, led by Dr. Bhavna Langer, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine and Nodal Officer of the Preventive Oncology Unit, will organize multiple oral, breast, and cervical cancer screening and awareness camps in nine blocks and urban wards of Jammu District. These camps will be conducted fortnightly, providing easy access to preventive healthcare services. The primary goal is to detect potential pre-cancerous conditions at early stages and ultimately save lives. A team of doctors will offer comprehensive screening and examination services at these camps, in collaboration with the Department of Health Services Jammu, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, and the National Tobacco Control Programme Jammu.
In addition to mass screening, healthcare facility assessments will be conducted at these camps, and comprehensive training will be provided to healthcare workers. The training will equip them with the necessary skills to effectively screen for oral, breast, and cervical cancer. Healthcare workers will receive specialized training on conducting thorough visual oral examinations, clinical breast examinations, visual inspections after the application of acetic acid for cervical cancer screening, and recognizing warning signs and symptoms of these cancers. By empowering healthcare workers with the latest knowledge and strengthening their skills, the Preventive Oncology Unit aims to ensure accurate and timely diagnosis, enhance outcomes, improve the quality of cancer screening services, and contribute to the overall well-being of the community.
The first camp took place on July 8, 2023, at PHC Arnia in Block Bishnah of Jammu District. It included healthcare facility assessment and hands-on training for the healthcare staff in screening for oral, breast, and cervical cancer. The screening and awareness were carried out by a team of doctors from the Department of Community Medicine, including Dr. Bhavna Langer, Dr. Kamna Singh, Dr. Nahida Chowdhary, Dr. Jyoti Bala, Dr. Sakshi Manhas, Dr. Sumaira, Dr. Imran Zaffer, Dr. Hemaal Koul, Dr. Amani Majeed, Dr. Raheel Murtaza, and Dr. Burhan Hameed. Dr. Shamim Ahmad Choudhary, BMO Bishnah, and Dr. Mridula Singh, Nodal Officer NTCP, were also present and provided overwhelming support.
The camp was organized under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, Dr. Rajeev Sharma, Director of Health Services Jammu, Dr. Rajiv K. Gupta, HOD Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Harbaksh Singh, CMO Jammu, and Dr. Deepak Kumar, Deputy Medical Superintendent of the State Cancer Institute Jammu. |
