Eighteen women were cured from cervical pre-cancer and several others were screened and given medicines to get rid of gynaecological infections in the ‘Mega Women’s Health Camp’ organised by Women Doctors’ Wing IMA Jharkhand and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Jharkhand at Ratu, near Capital City on Tuesday.
The ‘Mega Women’s Health Camp’ and training camp for government gynaecologists, organised under the joint aegis of Health Department and Women Doctors’ Wing IMA Jharkhand was inaugurated by State Health Minister Banna Gupta and IMA National President Dr J A Jayalal.
In the camp, patients were examined by the team of Dr. Kanika Gupta, a renowned gynaecologist from Max Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi. Also, 40 government gynaecologists of Jharkhand were given training in the diagnosis of cancer with digital video colposcope and treatment with cryo in cervical pre-cancer. Iron, folic acid and calcium tablets for one month were distributed free of cost to all the women coming to the camp. Kit 2 and Kit 6 tablets were distributed free of cost to all the women suffering from leucorrhoea.
A total of 250 patients were examined in the camp. Out of these, eight women were found to have cervical polyp for removal, for which they were called to Sadar Hospital Ranchi, one woman was found to have cervical cancer stage 3, who was referred for radio therapy, 18 women were found to have cervical pre-cancer. They were freed from cancer by giving Colposcope guided cryo treatment at the camp site itself. About 40 per cent of the women who came to the camp were found to have genital infections, who were distributed free Kit 2 and Kit 6 tablets and free 1 month iron, folic acid and calcium tablets were distributed to all the women who came to the camp.
Under the Prime Minister's Safe Motherhood Assurance Scheme, symptomatic and high-risk category women will be called to Sadar Hospital, Ranchi by Sahiyas on 9th of every month and they will be screened via colposcope and if needed, treatment with cryo will also be done. Under this scheme, an honorarium of Rs 100 is also given to the Sahiyas so that they can be comfortable in commuting.
State Health Minister Banna Gupta said on the occasion, “We all should understand the importance of the mother's womb, so it is very important to save mothers and sisters. Mother is the creator. Our scientists could not make a single drop of blood. Relationships with men are a major cause of cervical cancer. It is the duty of men to get the women of the house checked at the right time. The Union Health Minister has also been apprised of the complaint of low monthly allowance of Sahiya sisters. Sahiyas have done a great job even in the Corona period. I would ensure that 6 per cent of women of reproductive potential, who are in the high-risk category and with probable symptoms, would be screened and treated for cervical cancer by the government hospitals of the State.”
Chairperson of Women Doctors’ Wing IMA Jharkhand, Dr Bharti Kashyap said, “In 2015 when we started Cervical Cancer Eradication Campaign under the banner of Women Doctor Wing IMA Jharkhand all over Jharkhand, we were also successful in installing the cervical cancer test and treatment machine in 11 out of 23 Sadar Hospitals of Jharkhand and I myself installed this machine in Ranchi Sadar Hospital with my financial support. We have brought this machine to this camp and through this machine many women are getting new life in this camp today. Many times, the cancer gynaecologists of America, Delhi and Kolkata also train government gynecologists of State.”
“If we complete the screening of 6 per cent women with high-risk category and symptomatic women of reproductive potential population, then we will catch cervical cancer at a pre-cancerous stage and can be cured by cryo treatment. In this way, we will be able to stop cervical cancer in our State in one year, provided that there is a continuous review of screening going on in government hospitals across the state every month,” she said.
“State-wide cervical cancer screening is required to include 6 per cent of women of reproductive potential, who are in the high-risk category and likely symptomatic. This number is 270000 i.e. close to three lakh and Ranchi is close to 22000,” said Dr Kashyap.
