CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Bhopal: A free cancer screening camp continued for the second day at Vidisha Medical College, where a large number of patients from the Vidisha parliamentary constituency as well as other districts were examined during the two-day camp. During the camp, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said this “great yajna of service” was moving forward continuously and that the large number of suspected cancer cases detected during screening was a matter of concern. He said the campaign would not remain limited to screening and consultation alone, but proper arrangements would be ensured for the treatment of every patient. A team from Tata Memorial Hospital and specialist doctors was also present on the occasion.
Calling for the de-addiction campaign to be turned into a mass movement, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said all sections of society must come together to build a social force against addiction so that future generations can have a safe and healthy future. Appealing to citizens to join the campaign, he said interested people can give a missed call on 8929629475 or register under the category section on the website www.shivrajsinghchouhan.co.in. He said committees would be formed in villages through public participation and a broad awareness drive would be carried out. A de-addicted society, he said, forms the strong foundation of a healthy, safe and prosperous nation, and therefore the campaign requires support from every section of society.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan said a complete record is being prepared for every patient coming for screening, with mobile numbers being noted and necessary medical advice being given. He said all patients would now be classified to determine who needs chemotherapy, who requires radiotherapy, and who needs biopsy or surgery. A team of specialist doctors will decide the course of treatment according to each patient’s condition and the concerned hospitals will be identified accordingly. He said every possible effort would be made to ensure treatment for eligible patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, and other arrangements would also be made wherever needed. “Our goal is that no patient should be deprived of treatment, and every sister and brother should receive care with full responsibility,” he said.
He said the screening had made it clear that awareness about cancer is particularly lacking among women. Because of hesitation and lack of information, many women do not report their problems in time, allowing the disease to become serious. He said early detection is possible in diseases such as breast cancer and uterine cancer, but delays in screening often lead to delays in treatment. Along with treatment arrangements, he said, a large-scale public awareness campaign would also be launched so that people undergo screening in time without hesitation and treatment becomes possible at an early stage of the disease.
Making a special appeal for the health of women and girls, the Union Agriculture Minister said cervical cancer has become a serious challenge for women in the country. He said it is the second most common cancer among women and that more than 1.20 lakh new cases are reported in the country every year, while nearly 80,000 women die prematurely. He said the cancer is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and is one of the few cancers whose prevention is possible through effective vaccination. Shivraj Singh Chouhan urged families to ensure that daughters up to 14 years of age receive the HPV vaccine. He said it is not just a vaccine, but a protective shield for daughters’ healthy, safe and cancer-free future. The Government of India, he said, is providing this vaccine free of cost at government health centres, and according to scientific studies it is 93 to 100 per cent effective. He appealed to society to move beyond hesitation and lack of awareness and ensure timely vaccination for every daughter, saying a healthy woman is the foundation of a strong India.
Making an emotional appeal to sisters and daughters, the Union Minister said that if a lump in the breast, abnormal changes or any other health-related symptoms are noticed, medical screening should be done without hesitation. Timely examination, he said, can make treatment of a serious disease like cancer possible, while negligence can prove fatal. He also urged brothers and other family members to encourage women to undergo screening and create an environment in which health problems are discussed openly rather than hidden. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said treatment for cancer is essential, but it is even more important to prevent cancer from occurring in the first place. For that, he said, a broad roadmap would be prepared for a de-addiction campaign against habits such as tobacco, supari, gutkha, bidi, pan masala and alcohol. Through social awareness, he said, people would be encouraged to stay away from these harmful substances so that serious diseases like cancer can be prevented in the future.
Thanking the specialist doctors and the entire team from Tata Memorial Hospital, the Union Agriculture Minister said a detailed plan for treatment of patients is being prepared and training of local doctors will also continue. He said the opportunity to learn from specialists would further strengthen health services. His effort, he said, is to develop a comprehensive system for cancer prevention, timely identification and better treatment so that suffering humanity can be served effectively.
On concerns over the time taken for facilities such as radiography and sonography at Vidisha Medical College, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the college had performed important work during challenging circumstances, including the Covid period, and its systems were being strengthened in phases. He said the Health Minister had also been informed about the need to expand facilities, and continuous efforts would be made in future to further improve health services there. The Union Minister added that addiction can be curbed only through social awakening. Referring to tobacco and gutkha consumption, he said the government has already banned many gutkha products, but government efforts alone are not enough. Society too must become aware and come forward against addiction, he said. “The government will play its role and society must fulfil its responsibility; only then will a lasting solution to this problem be possible.”
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