Summary

Program goals

432.2 million Women aged 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer in India. Despite cervical cancer being completely preventable, current estimates indicate, that every year, almost 1, 22, 844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67,477 die from the disease. Cervical cancer is the 2^nd most frequent cancer among Indian women between 15 and 44 years of age.

The primary goal of this program is to eleminate health disparities among poor and especially women by improving access to quality healthcare. The program also aims at disseminating information on health and wellbeing, encouraging informed and responsible health seeking behaviour among women. The program also ensures 100% ontime screening of women in th

Key program components

The key to last mile reach is education and awareness generation. A lot of emphasis is placed on sensitizing under privileged women about cervical cancer. This education is carried out by the community health workers, who are trained in the basics of sexual and reproductive health. They in turn educate women in small clusters in the community level.

Biocon Foundation decides on the eligibility criteria for women to be screened for cervical cancer. Women above 21 years, sexually active for more than three years are the primary target audience. Exceptions include- HIV positive women, women who are pregnant or menstruating, and women who have undergone hysterectomy.

A pictorial module of reproductive and sexual health including basic information on cervical cancer detection and prevention is our primary tool for education.  Health workers use this module for awareness generation in the communities.

Women matching the criteria for screening are pre-registered for cervical cancer screening. To maintain quality and provide focussed attention, the centre limits the number to 20 per session .Specialists from the tertiary cancer centres visit each clinic once a month and screen these 20 pre-registered women. Every woman undergoes a highly systematic examination including a pelvic examination (per vagina and per speculum). A clinical breast examination is conducted to screen breast cancer.

A doctor conducts a systematic pelvic examination and Pap smear. Patients found to have candidiasis or Cervicitis/Vaginitis are given appropriate medication. PAP slides are sent to the Mazumdar Shaw medical Centre (MSMC) or St. John’s Hospital, both in Bangalore. The patients get these services at a discounted rate. They are advised to repeat the Pap smear test every 5 years.

Further investigations if required, are done at subsidized rates at the tertiary cancer centres. These include, Colposcopy, Biopsy, LEEP and Cryotherapy.

Since its inception, the program has benefitted a large section of women from the underserved communities, women with significant lesions, and those who ignored common reproductive tract infections, due to lack of knowledge and privacy. Thus the community level awareness generation and the focussed group discussions on health seeking behaviour has helped them to understand the importance of reproductive health. Easy accessibility to tertiary cancer centres has also help them to treat cervical cancer on time.