Volunteers spread cancer awareness among women

Women health volunteers and adolescent friendly health centres in the State will spread awareness against the risk of non-communicable diseases, especially cancer among women and children, said Dr Senthil Raj, mission director, National Health Mission on the side-lines of an event on Sunday.

Inaugurating the walkathon for breast cancer awareness as part of breast cancer awareness month, Senthil said that the initiative is in collaboration with Women Development Corporation. The health department has also tied up with district administration to sensitise children on non-communicable diseases. Similarly, teenagers are being sensitised in all the districts through non-medical officers.

Senthil said that government hospitals, district hospitals, taluk hospitals and even Primary Health Centres in the city have non-communicable disease clinics to screen people for various diseases, including cancer.

“Taking a step ahead, we have brought in 3D mammogram technique in the State and Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital has this facility currently. There are at least 25 hospitals that have mammogram machines,” he said.

Senior officials said that cancer operation centres are available in all district hospitals, and linear accelerators for post-surgery radiotherapy are being made accessible. Linear accelerators cost Rs 20 crores and in the past four years, the State has received around 10 linear accelerators under National Health Mission.