Ezhuvom Iyakkam – Prevention to Palliation of the dreaded Big C – Cancer”
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Cancer is on the rise in India. And VMSSS with its key partners is committed to contain its strangulating grip on the community.
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As per the Tamil Nadu Cancer Registry Programme, a total of 61, 402 cancer patients were registered in various hospitals of Tamil Nadu in the year 2014 and the numbers are on rise. In Tirunelveli district, 1953 cancer patients were registered and 56% of them were females. Breast cancer was the top-ranking cancer in Tirunelveli, constituting 20.4% of the women cancers followed by cervix (12.3%). Overall, the stage at presentation is increasing, however, the disparity exists across regions. More than 50% of the cancer patients continue to report to district cancer hospitals in an advanced stage due to poor awareness, particularly patients from rural areas. The scope of cancer prevention and control is very high as most of the cancers are preventable and can be detected early. Moreover, timely referral and, care and appropriate treatment will have a greater impact on the survival and quality of life of the cancer patients.
Alarming statistics despite continuous
battle against Cancer.
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According to the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), an estimated 2.25 million people in India live with cancer and more than 1,157,294 new cancer patients are registered every year. In 2018, 7,84,821 people (4,13,519 men and 3,71,302 women) died of cancer.
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Making it affordable – accessible – available to the most deserving
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According to the National Health Authority (NHA), as on 15 December 2019, 4, 70,133 cancer cases have been treated under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, considered to be the world’s largest fully government-financed health insurance scheme.
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Yet, a lot more needs to be done to fill the gap.
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VMSSS is focused on helping to close these gaps.
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Keeping this in view, Valliyur Multipurpose Social Service Society established by Diocese of Tuticorin proposes to implement cancer prevention and control programmes in four selected blocks in Tirunelveli in collaboration with Nellai Cancer Care Center. The programme will focus on hand holding every risky individual to complete the cancer care continuum starting from prevention to palliation thereby reducing the cancer related morbidity and mortality in rural areas of Tirunelveli.
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Nellai Cancer Care Center was established by Udhavum Ullangal working in the area of Cancer Control for the past 9 years in Tirunelveli district. The following activities are proposed with the terms of reference stipulated by both the organizations.
Partners to fight Cancer
About Nellai Cancer Care Center:
Nellai Cancer Care Centre (NCCC) was established by Udhavum Ullangal in the year 2011 having its head quarters in Tirunelveli, with the technical support of Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar. The center was inaugurated by Padma Bhushan Dr. V. Shanta, Chairman, Cancer Institute. NCCC has so far conducted 1,484 camps over the last 8 years and created awareness for 1,15,772 people, screened 31,023 and supported 83 patients for treatment, many of whom have survived.
NCCC is networking with Government and Non-Governmental organizations in the southern districts and conducts community based cancer screening through ‘camp approach’. NCCC is also involved in research activities based on the data collected through these services and use this information for further clinical practice change. NCCC is the ‘External Learning Programme Center’ of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, and signed an MOU with the University for the same. In order to create employability skills among rural youth, NCCC has started a Diploma course on ‘Human Care Services’. This course teaches the candidates with basic nursing skills along with employability skills such as Computer, Communication, English speaking, etc.
NCCC also propose to set up a comprehensive tertiary level cancer center in Tirunelveli catering to the cancer control needs of people from southern districts of Tamil Nadu and a land of 5.3 acres is purchased for this purpose. The construction is to be commenced in 2020 for which NCCC is intensively working on raising funds.
“ACT NOW! Support Cancer P2P (Prevention to palliative)”