Flagship Details
Project SHAMBHAVI
Purpose
Spreading Awareness of Breast Cancer- its detection, screening, early diagnosis, treatment and mental Counselling for women.
Objective
Cancer has become very common due to current lifestyle, stress & environmental factors. This project was initiated with the hope of spreading awareness among the sub-urban and slum women living in cities or close to main cities to understand what is breast cancer, the reasons one can get exposed to the disease, how to detect if there are any symptoms shown by the body, helping them with screenings and treatment by associating with specialised hospitals. We also offer mental counselling for such patients.
Initiative
Multiple factors are directly affecting the increase in breast cancer cases in India. The main factors causing this rise include lack of awareness, delay in diagnosis, limited human resources, lack of funds for treatment and medicines and most importantly fear of being detected with cancer. As a result, the maximum cases of breast cancer are diagnosed at stage III or IV of the disease (as per Fotedar V, 2013 Report). We mobilise these slum women by explaining to them that anyone aged 18 and above can get exposed to the disease therefore early detection and diagnosis can prevent the spread of cancer to a higher stage hence increasing their survival rate by 90%. We involve community health workers in organizing awareness sessions in villages, slums and sub-urban regions and help them in availing the government schemes for the treatments.
Impact
- A team of doctors conduct free check-ups for the women who attend the awareness camp.
- This camp is held bi-monthly in and around Pune.
- Convincing these women and mobilising them to attend these sessions.
- We have covered more than 600 women so far. Out of which 9 were identified with some symptoms and were referred to Orchid Breast Health Centre for mammogram and further diagnosis.
- Post the success of this program in Pune, we are planning to replicate the same in other plant locations in India.
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