T.N. Health Department takes cancer screening to women at their workplace

The Well being Division had rolled out the community-based most cancers screening programmes in 4 districts of Erode, Ranipet, Kanniyakumari and Tirupattur in November 2023. File {photograph}
| Photograph Credit score: GOVARTHAN M

At a time when Tamil Nadu is taking forward its community-based organised most cancers screening programme, the Directorate of Public Well being (DPH) and Preventive Medication is taking steps to fight challenges in reaching out to girls aged 30 and above. It has began to achieve out to girls at their workplaces, together with MGNREGA websites, even whereas well being employees are discovering it more and more troublesome to entry girls residing in residence complexes.

The Well being Division, which had rolled out the community-based cancer screening programmes in 4 districts of Erode, Ranipet, Kanniyakumari and Tirupattur in November 2023, will likely be increasing the initiative to the remainder of the State quickly. Below the initiative, girls aged 30 and above are screened for breast and cervical most cancers, whereas oral most cancers screening is finished for all above the age of 18. In door-to-door visits, well being employees “invite” girls to return to the screening items.

“Within the working sector, the variety of girls turning up for screening stays low. One among their largest worries is shedding their wages for the day. So, we’re reaching out to them at their workplaces that embody MGNREGA websites. We additionally attain out throughout Self-Assist Group conferences, markets, native festivals and a few non secular gatherings. We’ve got given choices to native healthcare employees items to plan their screening programmes in line with the scenario,” T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Well being and Preventive Medication mentioned.

Whereas it is a key problem, most ladies in center and higher earnings teams stay inaccessible, he mentioned, including, “Bodily entry to locations reminiscent of flats stay troublesome for our well being employees.”

Confronted with such challenges, the Directorate has been urging girls aged 30 and above to get themselves screened yearly for breast and cervical cancers. “Whether or not a lady has signs or not, it’s advisable to endure screening. There isn’t a want for worry. For cervical most cancers screening, it’s a easy painless take a look at – Visible inspection with acetic acid (VIA) – that takes lower than 10 minutes,” he mentioned. Whereas VIA is finished in authorities services, some non-public services do Pap smear assessments and HPV DNA testing as effectively.

What’s most wanted, say medical doctors, is behavioural change: health-seeking behaviour in girls should change and they need to come ahead for screening, they mentioned.