A successful Cervical Cancer Awareness Programme and screening camp was held in Innanje to promote the elimination of cervical cancer in this village of Karnataka state. Various health and community organisations collaborated in presenting this event on November 12, 2021.
The event commemorated the anniversary of the announcement of the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy by World Health Organization (WHO) on November 17, 2020. One of the aims was also to spread awareness of the PRESCRIP-TEC project among women in the reproductive age group, community health workers, NGOs and health care providers in the rural area. The project is in line with the global strategy for eliminating cervical cancer.
Main objectives of the programme
The main objectives of the programme were to:
- Promote awareness of cervical cancer screening in line with the WHO global strategy.
- Create awareness of the facilities and infrastructure available at the nearest healthcare facilities in the community, targeting mainly adolescent girls and men and women in the reproductive age group.
- Promote awareness of the PRESCRIP-TEC project (PREvention and SCReening Innovation Project Toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer) and the self swab technique for HPV screening.
Approach
The programme commenced with a short formal inauguration followed by the District Surveillance Officer, NGO staff and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) emphasising the need for cervical cancer screening and its benefits. The stakeholders and personnel to be approached, the PRESCRIP-TEC project and its innovative strategy were also introduced.
Public health students from MAHE enacted a skit which elaborated on the points presented by Dr. Arathi, making the session an interesting and informative programme. The act aspired to give information on the early symptoms of cervical cancer and the importance of early diagnosis, the available facilities, and the first contact person in public sectors. The performance also depicted the significance of communicating the early symptoms with family members, Auxillary Nurse Midwifes (ANMs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
Participants attending the programme included adolescent girls and boys, men and women in the reproductive age group, and community healthcare workers from the primary health centre in Kaup. Community health workers like ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives and Anganwadi workers were also present. Appropriate anti-COVID-19 measures were followed throughout the programme.
Expected Outcomes:
- Enhanced awareness of the relevance of cervical cancer screening among women in Innanje village
- Adolescent girls and boys being aware of the importance and methods of cancer screening and of HPV vaccine
- Community health workers and health care providers being made aware of the PRESCRIP-TEC project
- Promoting NGOs’ awareness of their role in mobilising women in the uptake of the PRESCRIP-TEC project.
Collaborators
This event was presented jointly by The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) together with the Department of Health & Family Welfare, Udupi District; District Surveillance Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit, Udupi; Primary Health Center, Kaup; Rotary Club Shankarpura, and Rotary Community Corps Innanje, jointly conducted a Cervical Cancer Awareness Programme and screening camp on November 12, 2021 at the Dasabhavana Hall, near Innanje Panchayat, Kaup.
We want to thank all the collaborators and participants for their collaboration and also for attending the event.
Only by working together can we eliminate cervical cancer!
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