Synopsis
Union Health Minister J P Nadda announced that over 14.6 crore women have been screened for breast cancer and more than 9 crore for cervical cancer in India. The National NCD Portal and NP-NCD program aim to combat non-communicable diseases through infrastructure and awareness.Key Takeaways
- Over 14.6 crore women screened for breast cancer.
- More than 9 crore screened for cervical cancer.
- 57,184 diagnosed with breast cancer; 50,612 in treatment.
- 96,747 diagnosed with cervical cancer; 86,196 in treatment.
- NP-NCD program launched in 2010 to combat NCDs.
New Delhi, Feb 8 (NationPress) More than 14.6 crore women nationwide have undergone screening for breast cancer, while over 9 crore have been screened for cervical cancer, stated Union Health Minister J P Nadda.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Nadda highlighted that 57,184 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 50,612 are currently receiving treatment.
Moreover, 96,747 women have been diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 86,196 undergoing treatment, as per the data from the National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) portal.
The National NCD Portal was introduced by the government in 2018 under the NP-NCD initiative for the screening and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), ensuring ongoing care for five prevalent NCDs, including breast and cervical cancer.
To mitigate and manage significant NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) was initiated by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in 2010.
This program aims to enhance infrastructure, develop human resources, promote health, and facilitate early diagnosis, management, and referrals to suitable healthcare facilities.
As part of this initiative, 770 district NCD clinics, 233 cardiac care units (CCU), 372 district day care centers, and 6,410 NCD clinics at community health centers have been established across the nation, Nadda mentioned.
Furthermore, the Department of Health and Family Welfare extends technical and financial aid to states and Union Territories under the NP-NCD as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).
This program emphasizes enhancing infrastructure, developing human resources, early diagnosis, and referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities for treatment and management, as well as promoting health awareness to avert NCDs, Nadda added.
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) conduct community-based assessment checklists (CBAC) for individuals aged 30 years and above in the population.
Risk assessments for NCDs are performed through CBAC, and all high-risk individuals are referred for screening of common NCDs as part of the comprehensive primary health care under NHM, Nadda explained.
