Hyderabad: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Telangana health department on Sunday launched a large-scale health screening programme for nearly 46 lakh women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) across the state. The initiative was launched at Adivasi Bhavan in Banjara Hills.Under the programme, women from about 4.37 lakh self-help groups in all 33 districts will undergo comprehensive health check-ups. With the support of the non-profit Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), women will be taken to their nearest Primary Health Centres (PHCs), where around 30 diagnostic tests, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and thyroid tests, will be conducted free of cost.Officials said the screenings will help create digital health profiles for each participant. After the check-up, a digital health record with a QR code will be generated and stored in the state’s e-HMIS portal, enabling doctors to access medical information easily and provide timely treatment in the future.On the occasion, the health minister said the initiative aims to promote early detection of diseases and improve access to preventive healthcare for women linked to SHGs across Telangana.On this occasion, the HPV vaccination programme, which was unofficially launched a week earlier, was started statewide officially. Highlighting women’s health concerns, the minister noted that cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in India after breast cancer. Around 3,200 cervical cancer cases are reported in Telangana every year. To address this, the govt rolled out the vaccination programme for girls between the ages of 14 and 15 years. Nearly four lakh girls will be covered under the programme.
