CSR

MHS Organises Cancer Awareness camp for Tribal Women

Metropolis Health Services (MHS) in association with Adivasi Sahaj Shikshan Pariwar (ASSP) organised a cancer awareness camp recently for over 100 tribal women in Maswan village in Thane district. At the camp, pap smear and HPV tests were provided free to tribal women.

A pap smear effectively detects not only cervical cancer, but also the changes in ones cervical cells that suggest cancer may develop in the future. A Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test is done to find a high-risk HPV infection in women. An HPV test checks for the DNA of the human papillomavirus. Like the pap smear, an HPV test is done on a sample of cells collected from the cervix. These tests which are available at Rs 320 and Rs 2,100 respectively at MHS were made available for free to tribals.

Ameera Patel, Executive Director, MHS, said, "The main objective was to spread awareness among tribal women on problems related to cervical cancer. Their poor access to basic necessities like dispensaries, medicines and diagnostic laboratories, has made us step in and come forward with our mission to create awareness and provide them with adequate tests to help identify and curb the problem at an early stage."

Cervical cancer has been a constant concern for women all around the world and in India too. This problem is also present and has been increasing rapidly amongst tribals. This is due to lack of proper education on the subject and diagnostic facilities available to them. "Sadly, these women mostly rely on black magic and herbal medicines given by local quacks for all major and minor treatments. Check ups amongst these women thus becomes mandatory to help prevent this problem and help bring a halt in its development in future," she added.

Dr Sudha Randive, President, ASSP, said, "ASSP being a voluntary organisation, our focus has always been to execute and plan programmes for the betterment of tribals. It is indeed depressing seeing women being manipulated by local quacks. Lack of education and understanding on this topic have resulted in these women suffering from various diseases."

EH News Bureau