As more women across the world are getting affected by Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer every year, there is a need to develop a shield and system against this cruel ailments.
Towards that end, Kovai Medical Center & Hospital (KMCH) and Rotary Mettupalayam joined hands to launch Project Heal in Coimbatore on February 4th – World Cancer Day.
HEAL stands for High Awareness, Early Detection, Affordable Treatment and Low Mortality of Breast and Cervical Cancer.
The major highlight of this project is a state of the art vehicle – a Mobile mammogram and cervical cancer screening Unit that will offer services to women (esp.rural) in 30,000 sq.kms around Coimbatore.
The Chief Guest of the event was Vanathi Srinivasan, National President, BJP Mahila Morcha (Women’s Wing).
Vanathi Srinivasan did the inauguration in the presence of Dr. Thavamani D.Palaniswami, Vice-Chairperson, Dr.Mohan S.Gounder, Dr.Arun N.Palaniswami, Directors, Dr.Mathew Cherian, Chief of Radiology Services, Dr.Rupa Ranganathan, Dr.Anbukani Subbian of KMCH.
Rotarians of Rotary International District 3202 : A.Karthikeyan, Suresh Ananthakrishnan, Project Chairman, Muthuswany, President, Rotary Mettupalayam, O.Arumugasamy, N.Krishnaswamy, Nowrathanmal Shankla, Ismail, Vijayagiri and Stephen took part in the event.
Encee Aromatics Pvt Ltd, KMCH, Project Heal Trust, Metro Matric Hr.Sec.School, Rotary Club of Erode Cosmos, Rotary Club of Juarez, Mexico are the Corporate Sponsor, Medical Partner, Implementation Partner, Institutional Partner, 1st regional partner and International Partner of this project respectively.
The project’s objective is to detect breast cancer and cervical cancer in women at early stages and offer treatment.
It is a long-duration Project of 5-8 years.200-250 camps have been planned to be conducted in a year.
Dr.Roopa Ranganathan, Head, Breast and Imaging Center, KMCH said 50% women who are diagnosed with Breast Cancer succumb to it and 60% Indian women come to doctors at advanced stages. She underlined that if screening is done, women will certainly have knowledge of the cancer’s risks (if it prevails).
Dr.Anbukanni Subbian, Consultant Gynec-Oncologist, KMCH shared that Cervical Cancer can easily be tackled if women get vaccinated early, since it is causes by a virus.
If women at 40s could get pap smear test done, they can have knowledge of the risks (if present) and certainly be safe from the cancer.
The vehicle will be stationed at KMCH.A command center will be set up at Mettupalayam.
Project Heal Trust will conduct camps in several areas through regional partners in Dharapuram, Erode,Tiruppur, Mettupalayam, Nilgiris and Coimbatore.
Project Heal is a Gift to Community
– Vanathi Srinivasan.
Speaking at the event, Vanathi Srinivasan said that this Project and Screening Unit are meaningful gifts to community by KMCH, Rotary Mettupalayam, Encee Aromatics and all donors.
She highlighted that this ambitious project will have few challenges to Address like convincing women to come forward for screening.
She said that we live in a society where women with illness just keep their ailment away and continue to look after the family. Some women find it really difficult to convey their ailment.
She stated that KMCH and the whole project Heal team should find ways to convey that screening is normal and needed for women.
She stressed that early breast cancer and Cervical cancer detection will benefit women and their family, and she wanted women to make use of these services.