Page 37 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

Encouraging Health

Seeking Behaviour

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In
n India, health-related stigma casts a shadow
n n In d i i a, h ea lt h- re la te d st i i g ma c as ts a s ha do w
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vulnerable populations. The fear of judgmental
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attitude from society and discrimination often
m
sc
ro
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at ti tu de f ro m so ci et y an d di sc ri mi na ti on o ft en
ci
ti
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Stifa Lokhanary
n
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ee
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e,
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i
i
k
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le leads individuals to delay seeking care, with cancer Stifa Lokhanar y
ad
ng
leads individuals to delay seeking care, with cancer
i
ay
s
h
du
Health Camp Manager
patients in particular bearing heavy burden of stigma.
patients in particular bearing heavy burden of stigma.
pa ti en ts i n pa rt ic ul ar b ea ri ng h ea vy b ur de n of s ti gm a. Health Camp Manager
Lakhimpur Cancer Centre
This stigma not only perpetuates misconceptions Lakhimpur Cancer Centre
tu
s
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m
on
is
at
er
t
es
no
ti
ep
a
on
is
gm
ly
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Th
This stigma not only perpetuates misconceptions
s
about cancer but, also hinders access to timely and
about cancer but, also hinders access to timely and
ab ou t ca nc er b ut , al so h i n de rs a cc es s to t i m el y an d non-judgmental platform for individuals to seek
me
f
n-
s
dg
ee
r
vi
du
al
s
k
or
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al
in
di
o
no
nt
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m
to
non-judgmental platform for individuals to seek
la
p
t
n
tm
effective treatment.
e
ef effective treatment. . in information and guidance on cancer check-up and
tr
c
t
f
ea
e
iv
e

n
an
-u
n
ce
p
d
nc
o
an
information and guidance on cancer check-up and
ca
er
an
id
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he
u
at
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g
c
d
ck
rm
o
L
re
Ce
n
ve
e
ic
p
ak
At
ha
r
At Lakhimpur Cancer Centre (LCC) we have noticed
hi
ed
m
ce
nt
At Lakhimpur Cancer Centre (LCC) we have noticed
(
ot
C
LC
an
ur
C)
w
n
oo
t.
i
he
te

c
t
treatment. Situated outdoor within the campus, it
en
w
am
i
t
tr treatment. Situated outdoor within the campus, it t
ou
pu
S
ea
tm
r
ua
th
i
i
td
s,
d
on
el
ni
in
uc
n
e
hi
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ed
t
at
fe
th that this preconceived notion manifests in reluctance
iv
s
ta
ec
st
pr
io
ma
ot
ce
s
that this preconceived notion manifests in reluctance pr ov i d es e as y ac ce ss a nd s up po rt t o th os e gr ap pl i n g
nc
n
provides easy access and support to those grappling
provides easy access and support to those grappling
to
ss
ut
and fear among the public to discuss about
is
an
li
c
cu
bo
and fear among the public to discuss about
ub
d
a
he
t
p
fe
d
ng
mo
ar
a
with fear and uncertainty about their health condition.
wi th f ea r an d un ce rt ai nt y ab ou t th ei r he al th c on di ti on .
with fear and uncertainty about their health condition.
t
sp
al
i
he
em
re
ee
s
e
ca
ro
their health problem or to seek care. Despite the
p
th
.
th
k
bl
th their health problem or to seek care. Despite the T h e in tr od uc ti on o f th e En q u ir y / He l p k io sk r e p re se nt s
e
De
o
i
to
r
e
r
The introduction of the Enquiry / Help kiosk represents
The introduction of the Enquiry / Help kiosk represents
pr es en ce o f ad va nc ed d ia gn os ti c fa ci li ti es - m an y a a proactive and compassionate approach in
presence of advanced diagnostic facilities - many
presence of advanced diagnostic facilities - many

i
i
co
ct
v
at
e
d
pr
on
oa
e
s
ap
pr
mp
oa
an
ch
n
as
i
a proactive and compassionate approach in
ou
o
ve
he
al
pp
s
ns
individuals have expressed apprehension about
in individuals have expressed apprehension about t
i
xp
re
re
ss
i
d
n
i
e
v
ed
ab
a
ha
du
re
i
si
y
n
b
ri
n
h
la
st
ma
es
te
ad
ea
g
addressing health-related stigma by offering
fe
lt
dr
addressing health-related stigma by offering
d
g
h-
g
of
entering the cancer hospital campus - fearing the
en te ri n g t he c an ce r ho sp it al c am pu s - fe ar in g th e information about cancer treatment and hospital
entering the cancer hospital campus - fearing the
t
l
rm
n
nt
ou
at
i
ab
os
nc
p
h
t
fo
re
ta
ca
er
in information about cancer treatment and hospital
at
io
nd
a
me
dreaded diagnosis of cancer. This delay in seeking
dr ea de d di ag no si s of c an ce r. T hi s de la y in s ee ki ng facilities in a welcoming environment. The kiosk
dreaded diagnosis of cancer. This delay in seeking
he
lc
ti
li
we
k
t.
om
es
ci
T
en
en

nm
n
sk
in
ro
g
fa facilities in a welcoming environment. The kiosk
io
i
vi
a
p
ti
is
e
om
an
d
c
es
tm
ne
l
ea
ve
ss
en
help compromises effectiveness of treatment and
tr
om
o
ff
r
ec
f
help compromises effectiveness of treatment and
p
t
he
i
mo
s
t
i
l
r
i
an
t
d
er
sh
a
s
po
by
gm
se
o
t
d
de
b
he
aims to demolish the barriers posed by stigma and
ar
ms
ai aims to demolish the barriers posed by stigma and
ts
di diminishes the prospects of positive outcome for se ek s to d i s ma nt le t he m th ro u g h em pa th y an d
si
diminishes the prospects of positive outcome for
sp
mi
p
sh
he
me
ve
or
ec

o
ti
t
ut
co
es
f

ro
f
po
ni
o
seeks to dismantle them through empathy and
seeks to dismantle them through empathy and
i
p
patients. . un de rs ta nd i n g.
patients.
t
ts
a
en
understanding.
understanding.
w
t
an
ot
uc
ex
as
s
“
d
pr
co
nc
h
es
er
s
ns
Individuals express concerns such as “I do not want
i
du
s
i
n
v
do
al
I
In Individuals express concerns such as “I do not want
wh
to get inside the campus, what if I get cancer?”
,
to to get inside the campus, what if I get cancer?”
us
ns
id
i
et
g

ca
mp
e
e
th
at
i
?”
e
g
nc
I
f

ca
t
er
on
e
re
en
ti
h
me
b
i
e
or
n
The impact extends beyond mere information
ma
pa
T T h e im pa ct e xt en ds b ey on d me re i n f f or ma ti on
ds
on
xt
ey
im
ct
d
n
mi
n.
m
h
a
a
t
ss
r
i
o
s
fo

s
b
in
t
se
e
s
o
e
n

n
a
I
t
o

d
di dissemination. It fosters a sense of bonhomie and
e
e
of

dissemination. It fosters a sense of bonhomie and
ir
da
he
li
n
t
g
ri
en
ti
a
am
an
ts
f
s,
r
mo
ce
il
pa
ie
nd
c
a
ty
solidarity among cancer patients and their families,

solidarity among cancer patients and their families,
so
empowering them to confront their fears and seek the
empowering them to confront their fears and seek the
em po we ri ng t he m to c on f r on t th ei r f e ar s an d se ek t he
care they deserve. Moreover, by encouraging timely
care they deserve. Moreover, by encouraging timely
ca re t he y de se rv e. M or eo ve r, b y en co ur ag i n g t i me ly
at
ec
n
ig
ur
st
e

re
ti
va
he
p
er
t
ve
ng
ma
si
- - re ec ti ng t he p er va si ve n at ur e of t hi s st ig ma
- re ecting the pervasive nature of this stigma
hi
of
s
t
vi
c
presentation and care-seeking behaviour - the kiosk
ou
pr
ek
ti
g
a
be
k
ha
on
os
in
en
r
ta
ki
se
ar
th
e
-
e-
es
nd
am on g s t th e po pu la ti on . Ot he rs a re q uo te d sa yi n g “ I presentation and care-seeking behaviour - the kiosk
amongst the population. Others are quoted saying “I
amongst the population. Others are quoted saying “I
holds the promise of improving treatment outcomes
holds the promise of improving treatment outcomes
ho ld s th e pr om is e o f i mp ro vi n g t re at me nt o ut co me s
r
al
an
et
i
ce
is
id
ho
it
e
ns
th
c
sp
to
t
se
au
do not want to get inside this cancer hospital because
do not want to get inside this cancer hospital because
ec
b
an
do
g
ot
w
n
an
ho
and restoring hope to those affected by cancer.
t
ca
pe
th
o
or
os
st
y
d
g
ed
f
e
ct
re
f
e

.
er
a
in
b
nc
my
people may come to know about my illness”. and restoring hope to those affected by cancer.
p
t
people may come to know about my illness”.
k
ay
no
c
e
om
to
m
o
ou
e
p
w
le
ab
ll
i
ss
ne
”.
In conclusion, the Enquiry / Help kiosk at LCC is not
In In conclusion, the Enquiry / Help kiosk at LCC is not t
at
t
CC
H
L
us
ki
he
ry
n,
p
ui
el
k
os
io
s
nq
E
no
c
cl
i
/
on

is
m
va
io
ct
th
p
on
g
er
se
t
s
To combat this pervasive stigma amongst a section just a physical structure, but a symbol of resilience
ve
om
a
a
am
s
si
c
t
ti
To
To combat this pervasive stigma amongst a section
g
ba
n
a
ut
l
s
il
ie
ju just a physical structure, but a symbol of resilience
es
nc
e
a
p
st
bo
si
ym
ca
l
hy
r
o
f
ct
st
e,
b
ru
ur
io
ee
d
ki
an
e
at
ca
of the population and encourage healthcare seeking
s
ur
of of the population and encourage healthcare seeking
he
th
p
re
al
he
g
op
ul
co
n
n
g
en
t
a
and compassion in the face of adversity. It stands as
th
ad
f
an
I
f
mp
t
and compassion in the face of adversity. It stands as

st
an
a
ds
e
o
si
it
co
s
ce
rs
d
a
on
n
as
y.
ve
i
be ha vi ou r - La kh im pu r Ca nc er C en tr e em ba rk ed o n a a testament to the power of innovation and empathy
behaviour - Lakhimpur Cancer Centre embarked on
behaviour - Lakhimpur Cancer Centre embarked on
p
p
a
on
va
ow
ti
he
t
en

to
f
p
mp
in
hy
st
o
am
te
at
no
e
t
a testament to the power of innovation and empathy
er
nd
an innovative initiative: the outdoor Enquiry / Help
an innovative initiative: the outdoor Enquiry / Help
an i nn ov at iv e in it ia ti ve : th e ou td oo r En qu ir y / He lp in breaking down barriers to healthcare access and
nd
in in breaking down barriers to healthcare access and
ri
g
ar
re
a
ac
in
ss
e
ak
ce
b
b
ar
er
do
lt

h
s
to
ea
wn
hc
no
ti
f
re
on
ei
kiosk to take care of fear and preconceived notion
ki kiosk to take care of fear and preconceived notion
p
o
to
ca
os
nd
e
ar
a
ve
ak
t
k
nc
co
re
d
fe
ensuring that no one faces cancer in solitude.
ensuring that no one faces cancer in solitude. .
ce
ud
su
c
ne
no
es
ri
e
o
en
an
ng
t
it
ac
in
ol
r

t
f
s
ha
s
te
is
pu
th
af
k
gs
ve
ti
on
t
po
s
d
sk
e
Th
amongst the af icted population. This kiosk serves
ic
er

icted population. This kiosk serves
io

amongst the af
la
am
on
.
co
n
nv
en
h
a
a
ie
o
g
as a beacon of hope, offering a convenient and
ea
nd
er
as
b
co
as a beacon of hope, offering a convenient and
of
in
a
nt
e,
op
ff
Cancer is a serious disease, but it is not a death
Cancer i s a ser i ous d i seas e, but i t i s not a death
sentence. With early detection and treatment,
sentence. With early detection and treatment, 37
y
g
y
y
p
p
many people can live long and healthy lives.
many people can live long and healthy lives.