The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOV 18, 2021
Cervical Cancer is the only cancer which can be eliminated through proper vaccination and detection. On 17th November, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) gave the call for elimination of Cervical Cancer by the year 2030. Countries and communities around the world marked this movement with a day of action and the launch of local campaigns. AIIMS Bhubaneswar joining this global movement amid Covid-19 pandemic last year, has been putting its all effort to eliminate this disease.
This year, Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) Department of AIIMS Bhubaneswar has organised several awareness programmes on screening and early detection of cervical cancer. All adult women present in the Department as well as AIIMS Bhubaneswar were urged to vaccinate their daughters with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for primary prevention and to undergo periodic cervical cancer screening for secondary prevention. Patients and their family members were educated on how screening detects precancerous lesions, that is, abnormalities in the cells of the cervix, which if left untreated, can develop into cervical cancer. When found, precancerous lesions are treated. Screening is done by pap smears, liquid based pap, VIA, VILI and HPV testing.
The Department of O&G also took the pledge to contribute to cancer cervix elimination by the 90-70-90 strategy advocated by WHO. To vaccinate 90% of girls with HPV vaccine by 15 years of age, screen 70% of women by 35 and 45 years of age and to treat 90% of the women for precancerous lesions or invasive cancers.
Under the dynamic leadership of AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director and a leading medical educationist of the country Dr. Gitanjali Batmanabane, the leading healthcare institution of India has been doing free screening for women under BPL category from Mondays to Saturdays. Other patients are also getting this service at a nominal cost.
Similarly to create awareness for eliminating the cancer a webinar was organized by the Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine (CMFM) of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM) on “Cancer situation and preventive oncology in India”. This was addressed by AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director, Dr Gitanjali Batmanabane, IAPSM India President Dr Suneela Garg and NICPR New Delhi Director Dr Shalini Singh, Prof and HOD of CMFM of Bhubaneswar AIIMS Dr Sonu H Subba.
