Training module prepared in consultation with Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre of Cuttack
The State government is all set to launch a massive cancer screening of the population in Nuapada district under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) by end of the month.
" We have already prepared a training module in consultation with Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC), Cuttack. The first batch of doctors and paramedics will undergo the training programme to screen the huge population,” informed State Nodal Officer for NPCDCS PKB Patnaik said here on Saturday.
Risk assessment
He said a cancer detection centre would be established at the district headquarters hospital for building proper coordination with community level efforts.
The medical officers would clinically screen every patient for key signs and symptoms along with conducting an assessment of risk on the basis of behavioural patterns like addiction of tobacco and alcohol
Dr Patnaik said, “We are looking at detecting three types of cancers such as oral, cervical and breast. These three cancers constitute nearly 60 to 70 per cent of total cancer burden. Ashakarmis and health workers will motivate people aged above 30 to hospitals where they will be screened on the basis of key signs and symptoms of cancer.
“The aim of massive screening programme is to detect cancer at an early stage. In our state, cancer is generally detected at Stage-3 and Stage-4 from where saving the life of patient or making the remaining life soothing become a difficult task. Through this programme, we could be able to extend the productive life by six to seven years,” he said.
According to State Health and Family Welfare department, the government has already started bearing the entire cost of diagnosis, treatment, medicines and even transportation of cancer patients referred to the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre from the NPCDCS districts of Nuapada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Balangir.
As many as 40 patients have benefited from the programme under which each of the districts has provided Rs. 4 lakh to AHRCC as corpus fund to extend free treatment.
Meanwhile, more than 6.73 lakh people have been screened and over 10400 cases referred to CHCs and DHSs under NPCDCS and NPHCE programme implemented in Nuapada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Bolangir district of the State. Of which about 9 per cent of the screened people diagnosed as pre-diabetic, he said.
“Based on the outcome of screening programme, we will motivate people to change their diet and bring more discipline into their lifestyle so that the disease could be tackled,” Dr. Patnaik said.