Varanasi: Through Namo Shakti Rath, around 11,500 women were screened for breast cancer in urban and rural areas of Varanasi. The govt, with help from ITV Foundation, operated Namo Shakti Rath, equipped with state-of-the-art technology for cancer screening in Varanasi since Jan 14. During this campaign, the govt will take support from a cancer hospital for the examination and treatment of potential patients. ITV Foundation provided 20 Namo Shakti Rath to Varanasi district for this purpose. Chief development officer Prakhar Kumar Singh said that nine vans were operated in rural areas and 11 vans in urban areas for cancer screening among women. . With the cooperation of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, women were informed in advance and motivated for screening, so that maximum women could join this campaign and get screened. The CDO said under the campaign , screening was completed in more than 56 wards of urban areas and more than 59 gram panchayats of rural areas. Till Feb 8, a total of 11,500 women were successfully screened. A total of 225 women were found suspicious or potential so far. ITV Founder and Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma said , in the first phase, the campaign is proposed to be operated in a total of 260 gram panchayats and 92 wards of Varanasi parliamentary constituency. This campaign will continue until complete saturation of health services, so that no woman remains deprived of screening. This initiative is being considered a strong step towards providing health services to women with respect, dignity, and equal opportunity.
