Banaras Hindu University signs MoU with Indian Cancer Society
Ganga Godavari Cancer Screening Programme by AstraZeneca India aims to spread awareness and facilitate early detection of Oral, Breast and Cervical Cancers at early stages among women
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Indian Cancer Society (ICS) signed an MoU for conducting a cancer screening programme to facilitate early detection. The initiative called ‘Ganga Godavari Cancer Screening Programme’ by AstraZeneca India, intends to create awareness, and detect oral, breast and cervical cancers at early stages among women at specialized cancer screening camps. Doctors For You is the implementing partner for this programme in Varanasi.
The current phase of this programme will be initiated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in consensus with NHM and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare( MoH&FW). The Department of Community Medicine at the Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU will act as a nodal agency for this programme. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Surgery and Dentistry will provide an expert team of medical professionals for the provision of screening services at the Health and Wellness centre at Tikri. ICS would act as executing agency and will supervise and ensure effective implementation of this programme at the ground level.
The first phase of this programme was implemented in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Till now more than 76 camps has been conducted under Ganga Godavari Programme and around 4,000 plus beneficiaries have been registered. All the positive cases have been referred to partner tertiary care hospitals for further treatment.
While commenting on this, Gagandeep Singh, MD, AstraZeneca India said, “We’re making our science accessible by designing and delivering life-changing healthcare programmes tailored to the needs of the communities that we serve. The Ganga Godavari Programme has already touched the lives of more than 4,200 people and resulted in the early identification of 150 patients that were referred to tertiary care hospitals for further management.”
Dr Sangeeta Kansal, IMS, Banaras Hindu University, Department of Community Medicine, said, “We are proud to partner with Banaras Hindu University and Indian Cancer Society in alignment with the MoH&FW, to support the specialised cancer-screening for women from underprivileged families in Uttar Pradesh. This will support awareness building and early identification of patients in the defined area.”
Colonel Khadar, DDG, Indian Cancer Society said, “Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality among adults in India. Programmes like the Ganga Godavari, which are driven across the country will go a long way in supporting India’s fight against cancer.”
The Ganga Godavari programme aims to supplement the Government of India’s initiative of Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre programme of early screening and diagnosis of cancer patients. The ICS Helpline number is 1800-22-1951 for any information associated with cancer.
