Page 34 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

Community Outreach

Addressing the Cancer Crisis

in Assam:

A Comprehensive Approach to
A Comprehensive Approach to
Screening, Prevention, and Outreach
Screening, Prevention, and Outreach Ramen Barman
e
m
Ra
n B
an
rm
a
Team Member
Team Member
Community Outreach Programme
Community Outreach Programme
is
ou
se
ls
ch
f
a
om
or
to
th
ts
ar
f
fr from plain valley to hills and dense forests. This
.
nc
n n 20 21 , , th e In di an C ou nc il o f Me di ca l Re se ar ch from plain valley to hills and dense forests. This
il
h
es
Me
n 2021, the Indian Council of Medical Research
il
e
di
l
di
v
d
le
nd
In
al
Th
ca
la
20
se
p
C
Re
en
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y
an
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o
ce
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in
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ce
rn
rn
he
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t
t
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on
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on
on
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on
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en
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s
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i
se
th
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s
nt
ty
i
c
re
p
in
d
in
A
A
tr
tr
en
d
en
rich diversity presents both challenges and
.
d
s
an
ss
ss
am
.
am
s
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CM
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I(ICMR) shed light on a concerning trend in Assam. ri rich diversity presents both challenges and
co
co
el
el
50
st
Th
50
y
y
Th
st
at
pr
pr
at
ap
s
s
ap
at
im
im
at
ox
rd
rd
ox
opportunities, particularly in the designing of a
ce
an
an
,0
e
ce
00
e
n
n
e
00
e
The state records approximately 50,000 new cancer op po rt un it ie s, p ar ti cu la rl y in t he d es ig ni ng o f a
r
r
ew
c
c
opportunities, particularly in the designing of a
ew
re
re
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di
ea
er
no
se
wi
h
U
r
ag
th
a
nd
lt
d
ng
er
he
se
t
public health programme. Understanding the
pu
g
in
70
h
an
ta
s
st
ic
%
di
s
gg
bl
e.
ca
og
cases each year with a staggering 70% diagnosed
pr
ch
ra
ea
ea
y
mm
ca se s ea ch y ea r wi th a s ta gg er in g 70 % di ag no se d public health programme. Understanding the
in advanced stages. With a cancer rate of 114 per
ce
th
d
te
pe
.
ag
4
ce
o
Wi
nuances of Assam’s cultural diversity is essential
ra
c
a
r
an
r
in in a dv an ce d st ag es . Wi th a c an ce r ra te o f 11 4 pe r nu an ce s of A ss am ’s c ul tu ra l di ve rs it y is e ss en ti al
dv
nuances of Assam’s cultural diversity is essential
st
a
11
an
es
f
cr
lakh population, exceeding the national average -
e
xc
e
ag
ng
la la kh p op ul at io n, e xc ee di ng t he n at io na l av er ag e - in in developing effective cancer screening and
di
fe
a
op
n
s
g
t
ev
d
ct
io
ni
he
-
na
el
io
ng
at
kh
ee
ca
er
ee
op
nd
in
iv
p
nc
ul
ef
in developing effective cancer screening and
n,
at
l
av
er
e
awareness programmes tailored to the local
e
a
m
n
mb
Assam faces a huge challenge in combating the
g
ge
As
at
en
i
co
ge
ce
sa
th
hu
fa
in
ha
As sa m fa ce s a hu ge c ha ll ll en ge i n co mb at in g th e aw ar en es s pr og ra mm es t ai lo re d to t he l oc al
awareness programmes tailored to the local
s
c
se
t
as
po
as
populace. By incorporating indigenous beliefs,
t
li
i
ar
se
ar
ng
s
ti
la
he
a
ti
he
la
or
ti
re
be
re
a
nc
ar
ar
ra
nd
nc
ig
p
e.
ce
di di
s,
p
P
y
By
y
nc
P
le
re
re
.
al
al
le
po
va
ou
rl
la
rl
ng
i
disease. Particularly alarming are the prevalence populace. By incorporating indigenous beliefs,
ef
pu
ng
cu
mi
e
mi
e.
e
en
cu
va
b
en
re
ag
w
es
gu
d
an
om
an
t
ng
i
bl
nc
s,
ca
ov
an
er
ac
ce
ti
ic
nd
ia
of breast and ovarian cancer among women, and
nt
ar
of of b re as t an d ov ar ia n ca nc er a mo ng w om en , , an d practices, and languages into public health
as
l
pu
o
n
a
h
lt
ea
a
mo
pr
practices, and languages into public health
h
d
o
ic
fo
en
strategies - outreach efforts can be more
s
ca
ef
ac
a
e
nd
l
h
er
or al a nd l un g ca nc er a mo ng m en , , wh ic h ra nk st strategies - outreach efforts can be more
nk
ra
a
-
or
oral and lung cancer among men, which rank
ca
be
te
or
un
m
gi
g
ra
wh
re
rt
m
ut
mo
n
ng
h
al
nc
es
t
lu
Fu
i
he
nd
rt
ve
he
d
or
si
se
ed
.
he
e,
et
nc
as t he h ig he st r ep or te d ty pe s of c an ce r in t he targeted and inclusive. Furthermore, the diverse
iv
ta
targeted and inclusive. Furthermore, the diverse
rm
a
rg
as
as the highest reported types of cancer in the
t
ce
of
ty
t
or
te
in
er
r
r
he
h
pe
he
ig
d
ep
st
c
an
s
a
te terrain of Assam necessitates adaptable
en
bl
gi
ta
ea
d
am
ty
an
on
te
t
rg
of
d
.
at
e
li
is
u
rr
ec
ds
ad
em
n
A
ai
ta
io
Th
nt
es
s
n
r
ss
an
n
te
p
si
region. This reality demands urgent attention and
re re gi on . Th is r ea li ty d em an ds u rg en t at te nt io n an d terrain of Assam necessitates adaptable
t
es
se
approaches to reach remote and isolated
a a st ra te g i i c ap pr oa ch t ha t ad dr es se s th e un i i q ue ap pr oa ch es t o re ac h re mo te a nd i so la te d
ch
ha
approaches to reach remote and isolated
te
a strategic approach that addresses the unique
ue
ap
th
dr
c
t
q
e
st
ra
s
un
g
oa
ad
pr
It
l
th
ca
mm
ng
un
local needs and challenges. It is imperative that we
lo lo ca l ne ed s an d ch al le ng es . . It i i s i i m pe ra t t i i ve t ha t we communities where access to healthcare
re
ne
es
ca
he
al
s
we
d
ss
wh
ch
e
pe
t
ha
er
ce
s
t
ra
an
ac
co
o
ie
al
le
communities where access to healthcare
t
ve
it
ed
m
s
m
c
i
th
to
hi
i
d
te
i
b
co
ra ll y to ge th er t o co nf ro nt t hi s cr is is h ea d- on a nd services may be limited. .
o
nt
nf
ro
m
ay
ge
es
l
er
t
t
ra
rally together to confront this crisis head-on and
e
ll
y
a
cr
d-
s
nd
services may be limited.
is
s
e
is
ea
on
rv
h
g,
t
p
t
to
p
g,
i
n
n
y
y
i
m
i
i
el
el
m
to
ve
su
o
n,
n,
ve
o
cc
nt
nt
i
cc
i
re
s
s
nd
nd
re
su
a
es
es
a
a
a
sc
re
sc
re
re
re
en
en
en
ensure access to timely screening, prevention, and AC CF - t hr ou g h a l oc al iz ed a pp ro ac h th at
en
ACCF - through a localized approach that
ACCF - through a localized approach that
r
r
id
tm
es
es
es
ts
t
f
f
t
en
ts
id
tm
f
As
treatment services for all residents of Assam. . . respects and embraces Assam’s diversity - a
f
ea
As
rv
rv
se
o
es
en
o
ic
ic
tr tr
se
sa
m
en
ea
a
a
sa
or
or
en
m
ll
ll
e
s
t
ts
i
a
ec
mb
As
s
ce
d
i
y
a
sa
rs
ra
nd
sp
ve
m’
re respects and embraces Assam’s diversity - a
-
s
Assam is a medley of cultural, racial, and ethnic
mp
Assam is a medley of cultural, racial, and ethnic
s
p
ro
e
me
he
ca
comprehensive cancer screening programme is
ns
gr
cr
co
As sa m is a m ed le y o f c ul tu ra l, r ac ia l, a nd e th ni c comprehensive cancer screening programme is
ng
am
ee
i
re

er
i
n
v
i
nc
em
an
-
d
y
ec
t
ar
et
co
en
s
i
ve
pl
i
ng
n
n
ra
ad
te
w
implemented to detect and address the burden
te
rs
m
d
d
i
d
e
d
dr
a
en
rd
i
i
th
bu
e
le
up
diversity - coupled with a varied terrain ranging i implemented to detect and address the burden
a
g
v
t
th
to
di diversity - coupled with a varied terrain ranging
rr
es
r
im
th
iv
y,
pr
u
al
in
g
im
y
ov
f
lt
ce
ct
at
e
f
el
he
el
an
e
c
of of cancer effectively, ultimately improving health
of cancer effectively, ultimately improving health
on
re
g
i
os
outcomes across the region. .
om
es
s
outcomes across the region.
ou
e
tc
cr
th
a
Strategies for cancer awareness and prevention
Strategies for cancer awareness and prevention
bo
ne
In Increasing awareness about cancer and
Increasing awareness about cancer and
s
wa
ut
c
a
d
re
ce
i
an
ng
a
r
ss
an
cr
ea
screening of cancer at Health and Wellness
g
screening of cancer at Health and Wellness
sc re en in g of c an ce r at H ea lt h an d We ll ne ss
g
g
g
om
or
Centre (HWC) for common cancers would
er
nt
nc
ul
ca
re
HW
C)
(
mo
s
Centre (HWC) for common cancers would
f
d
n
c
Ce
wo
provide the most cost-effective approach and
p r ov id e th e mo st c os t- e f f e ct iv e a p p r oa ch a nd
provide the most cost-effective approach and
ub
ot
As
p
ad
i
ob
en
gh
t
o
al
i
co
th
l
al
c
i
t
lead to high public health potential. As tobacco
h
p
he
le lead to high public health potential. As tobacco
ac
.
t
f
e
id
ce
in
gl
an
he
t
c
wo
r
s
g
is the single leading cause of cancer worldwide,
o
ca
e,
le
ad
in
us
is is the single leading cause of cancer worldwide,
rl
e
dw
tr
s
es
on
ty
c
g
pr
gh
to
ol
highest priority is given to tobacco control.
o
t
i

i
n
ve
r
i
t
ac
ob
hi highest priority is given to tobacco control. .
i
co
i
ca
e
he
s
ub
ab
e
t
ro
du
on
c
ng
ou
p
i
mp
s
t
St Strong emphasis on educating the public about
ha
t
i
l
Strong emphasis on educating the public about
ng
th the common symptoms and signs and the
d
an
s
the common symptoms and signs and the
s
pt
e
co
i
an
th
ym
mm
on
d
e
s
s
om
gn
en
ce
ea
s
si
po
o
di
tm
y
d
no
importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
ea
importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

im
rt
ag
tr
an
t.
an
rl
f
ng
Strategic importance is given in educating
i
St Strategic importance is given in educating
t
i
i
n
m
n
e
g
c
i
po
i
s

ce
an
i
ve
g
rt
du
ca
ra
te
lv
s
.
v
vo
,
al
i
n
ct
i

he
ed
d
e.
th
in individuals involved in health care i.e., doctors
e
c
or
al
ar
individuals involved in health care i.e., doctors
s
n
i
do
i

du
i
at primary health centre, pharmacists, health
at primary health centre, pharmacists, health
at p r i ma ry h ea lt h ce nt re , p h ar ma c i st s, h ea lt h
i
g
es
w
or
ng
a
tc
d
an
e
rs
ke
i
wa
wo
st
workers, anganwadi workers etc. Key strategies
te
ra
workers, anganwadi workers etc. Key strategies
Ke
s,
.
y
rk
er
With courage, faith, and a positive attitude,
p
g
With courage, faith, and a positive attitude,
anything is possible. Especially the
anything is possible. Especially the ght 34
p
p
y
g
ght
y
g
g
against cancer.
against cancer.