Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Cancer screening

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital has embarked on three projects - to screen women for cancer of the cervix, diabetics for retinopathy and also a heart check-up for children.

The hospital said in a release on Friday after launching the cancer screening, that it first focussed on creating awareness on the disease among women in the lower socio-economic section. Pap smear test costing Rs.250 would be done free of cost by the hospital in association with the Rotary Club of Coimbatore Metropolis.

Cervical cancer ranked third among the causes of death, accounting for 9.5 per cent of all deaths. This cancer was common among women in the developing countries, imposing a heavy burden on the public health system. Besides, facilities for screening to help in early detection and treatment were scarce in rural areas.

The disease was at an early stage in two-thirds of the cases at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, awareness on early detection, especially response to screening camps, was important for effective treatment. The cure rate was high if treated at the initial stage, the hospital said. The latest programme was to help reach modern treatment to those who could not afford it.

Diabetic retinopathy

More than 1,000 diabetics registered for treatment with the hospital's Chidhbavanandha Rural Health Centre at Veerapandi would be screened for diabetic retinopathy on September 26 at the centre.

Already free treatment for diabetes was provided at the centre on the first and third Saturdays. Screening camps to detect diabetes were also conducted in the villages besides one every three months in association with Aravind Eye Hospital.

A mobile screening facility (van) with satellite link would be used for the forthcoming camp, the hospital said.

Under its Save A Little Heart Project in association with the Rotary club, 13 children underwent free heart surgery.

Ten of them had defects in the heart at birth. These cases were identified at a camp held at Veerapandi from among the 126 students screened.

More such camps would be held in course of time.

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