‘Sanjivani Abhiyan’ Launched for Early Cancer Detection
In a major health initiative, the Hingoli district administration in Maharashtra identified over 13,500 women with suspected cancer symptoms during a recent screening campaign. The drive, titled ‘Sanjivani Abhiyan,’ focused on early detection and diagnosis of various cancers, Collector Abhinav Goel confirmed on Tuesday.
ASHA Workers Reach Out to 3.5 Lakh Women
Launched on International Women’s Day (March 8), the campaign trained Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers using a Marathi-language questionnaire developed in collaboration with medical experts. These workers conducted home-to-home visits and successfully reached nearly 3.5 lakh women across the district.
Breakdown of Suspected Cancer Cases
As reported by theprint, from the women screened, officials identified:
- Around 7,000 women with suspected symptoms of cervical cancer
- Approximately 3,500 cases with signs of breast cancer
- Nearly 2,000 women showing symptoms of oral cancer
- A few other cases involving less common cancer types
Next Phase: Free Confirmatory Tests
With the first phase of screening now complete, Goel confirmed that the administration will conduct further diagnostic tests at rural hospitals and primary health centres, free of cost and in line with medical protocols.
Collector Emphasizes Importance of Early Detection
Reflecting on his previous role in Latur district, Goel recalled conducting a successful pilot project that helped detect pre-cancerous conditions through early biopsies. “My focus has always been early screening and early diagnosis,” he noted, underlining the long-term impact of timely medical intervention.