State’s first tehsil-level cancer screening initiative launched in Saoner-Kalmeshwar

Nagpur: A large-scale cancer screening campaign commenced in Saoner and Kalmeshwar tehsils, aiming to create a cancer-free region through extensive screening and awareness efforts. This is the first such initiative in which every person in more than one lakh households in this area will be screened, and those with cancer will receive free treatment.
This initiative is being carried out with the support of Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) Nagpur, Government Dental College & Hospital (GDCH) Nagpur, Public Health Department, Zilla Parishad (Health Department) Nagpur, municipal health departments of Saoner and Kalmeshwar, Ranjeet Deshmukh Dental College, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital.
Saoner BJP MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who is leading this initiative, claimed that it is the first such project in which govt machinery will join charity hospitals and medical colleges to screen the entire population for all types of cancers.
The campaign started on Feb 17 and will continue up to April 19. It aims to conduct screenings across nearly 1 lakh households, reaching approximately 5 lakh people in both Saoner and Kalmeshwar tehsils. Over 300 Asha workers, nurses, and Anganwadi workers have been mobilised to conduct door-to-door visits, educate residents about cancer symptoms, and facilitate early detection. If any signs of cancer are observed in individuals, they will be registered and referred to specialised cancer diagnosis and treatment camps.
As a crucial step in this initiative, a training session for Asha workers, nurses, and Anganwadi workers will be held on February 21 in Saoner.
Ashish Deshmukh emphasised the importance of early detection and comprehensive treatment. "This is a landmark initiative to make Saoner-Kalmeshwar cancer-free. We are ensuring that necessary steps are taken to provide top-quality treatment to patients. Our goal is to make this campaign so impactful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognises it in his ‘Mann Ki Baat' programme," he said.
As part of the initiative, HPV vaccination is also being provided to girls aged 17 to 19 years as a preventive measure against cervical cancer. Each camp will run from 10am to 2pm, providing screenings by specialists in oncology, gynaecology, surgery, ENT, paediatrics, dermatology, and dentistry. Patients diagnosed with cancer will receive further treatment under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana or Ayushman Bharat scheme at leading hospitals, including GMCH Nagpur, GDCH Nagpur, Ranjeet Deshmukh Dental College, and Lata Mangeshkar Hospital.
11 Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Camps:
March 3 – Rural Hospital, Saoner
March 7 – PHC, Badegaon
March 10 – PHC, Dhapewada
March 17 – PHC, Khapa
March 21 – PHC, Tishti
March 24 – PHC, Kelvad
March 29 – PHC, Gondkhairi
April 5 – PHC, Patansaongi
April 7 – PHC, Mohpa
April 11 – PHC, Chicholi
April 19 – Rural Hospital, Kalmeshwar