Over 2.27 million women screened so far
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said that the state government is making continuous efforts to improve women’s health and to reduce the incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer. Several concrete steps have been taken to strengthen awareness, timely screening, and better treatment facilities, she added.
The Health Minister said that every year, on the occasion of World Cancer Day and National Cancer Awareness Day, special awareness campaigns are conducted to educate women about the risk factors, symptoms, early detection, and prevention of cervical cancer. In addition, medical officers, staff nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and frontline health workers are regularly trained to improve the quality of screening, timely identification, counseling, and follow-up care.
Arti Singh Rao explained that cervical cancer begins in the lower part of the uterus (cervix) and is mainly caused by long-term infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In particular, HPV-16 and HPV-18 are considered more dangerous. Risk factors include smoking, early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, unsafe sexual practices, early marriage and pregnancy, repeated childbirth, and a weakened immune system.
Common symptoms of cervical cancer include bleeding between periods, excessive or prolonged menstruation, bleeding after menopause, bleeding after sexual intercourse, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, and pain during urination. She emphasized that if detected at an early stage, the disease is largely treatable.
She further informed that the Health Department, Haryana, has taken several significant initiatives in this direction. Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), screening of women aged 30 years and above is being conducted in all 22 districts of the state. This screening includes tests for hypertension, diabetes, and common cancers such as oral, breast, and cervical cancer.
For screening, a simple test called Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is being used. This facility is available at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and District Civil Hospitals.
Suspected cases are referred to higher centers for further examination. Colposcopy facilities are available at District Civil Hospitals in Ambala, Gurugram, Hisar, Jhajjar, Sirsa, and Sonipat. Additionally, facilities such as Pap smear, FNAC, biopsy, CT scan, and MRI are available at various district hospitals. Advanced treatment for serious cases is provided at Government Medical Colleges and Regional Cancer Centres.
According to data from the National NCD Portal, a total of 2,274,802 women have been screened for cervical cancer so far. Among them, cervical cancer has been confirmed in 1,153 women, and their treatment is ongoing. The Health Minister said that the state government’s goal is to ensure that every woman receives timely screening and appropriate treatment so that cervical cancer can be eradicated at its roots.