District Faridkot pilot project report on cancer awareness campaign
It is a known fact that the State of Punjab, especially the Malwa region is experiencing a rising burden of Cancer amongst the Non-Communicable Diseases. Cancer is emerging as one of the major health concerns for the Public in general and the State in particular. The Economic and Social cost implications of cancer to the society run into crores of rupees including direct and indirect costs to the families of the sufferers and to the society, due to reduced productivity. Therefore, for the prevention and control of cancer, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Punjab has envisaged to launch a State Wide Door To Door Campaign for Cancer Awareness and Symptom Based Early Detection with the following aims: To carry out a mass awareness campaign by home visits about cancer, its warning signs and the importance of early diagnosis in its treatment; To identify those showing the warning signs/symptoms that can generate suspicion of cancer; To locate and enumerate the existing cases of cancer already diagnosed; To know the exact count of deaths due to cancers in the last five years; To undertake an exercise of capacity building amongst the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), ASHA Facilitators, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Para- Medics, the Nursing Students and the Medical Manpower through training workshops at different levels; and To create awareness about Mukh Mantri Cancer Rahat Kosh Scheme so that all the eligible families could avail benefit as per the scheme.