Eminent principal consultant, Gynae Oncology, Dr.Kanika Gupta, Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi, today expressed the hope that the day is not far off, when Jharkhand could soon become the first Cervical Cancer Free state, in the country

Winding up her two day visit to Koderma and Ranchi on November 3 and 4th, 2018, respectively, where she presided over two mega Women's Health Camps cum Free Cervical Cancer Detection camps, Dr. Gupta stressed" I am overwhelmed at the inroads made by the Women Doctors' Wing, Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand Chapter and the massive support extended by the state government and other agencies in ensuring high tech health care delivery at the  doorsteps  of the people particularly in the far flung and rural areas  to ensure better health of women".

Achieving the goal of a Cervical Cancer Free State will take some time, Dr.Gupta conceded. However, the eminent Delhi based Gynae Oncologist stressed that a big beginning has already been made in Jharkhand, under the aegis of Women Doctors' Wing , with the state government equipping Sadar Hospitals at Santhal Parganas and  Palamau districts with Colposcope and Cryo Machines. Further impetus was granted by the donation of a Colposcope and Cryo Machine to the Koderma Sadar Hospital by Dr.Ravindra Rai on November 3, 2018 and another donation of a digital Colposcope and Cryo Machine being made today, by Dr.Bharti Kashyap, eminent ophthalmologist and chairperson, Women's Doctors Wing, IMA, Jharkhand, to the Sadar Hospital at Ranchi, she added.

"Treatment of Cervical Cancer at Delhi costs around Rs.3.5 lakhs to Rs.5 Lakhs, by rough estimates. However the cost of a Colposcope is a mere Rs.1.50 lakhs. Equipping all state run health care centres with Colposcope and Cryo Machines would go a long way in ensuring better and health lives for the women in Jharkhand, particularly rural women," Dr.Gupta suggested.

Talking to newsmen after donating a digital Colposcope and Cryo Machine to Ranchi Sadar Hospital, today, Dr.Bharti Kashyap, eminent Ranchi based ophthalmologist and chairperson, Women's Doctors Wing, IMA, Jharkhand Chapter said," in Jharkhand, we are pursuing an important dream of making women's lives, more healthy lives. Early marriages, lack of information of basic health practices, hygiene, safe sex, unequal social standing increases health risks for women, particularly rural women.  Through these many Mega Women's Health Camps, Free Cervical Cancer Detection and Anemia Detection Camps, we are educating women on how a female body works, the need to maintain good health and personal hygiene, so that women can take better control of their own lives".

Dr.Bharti Kashyap revealed that they were in the process of creating a pool of trained manpower to enable the state health department to attain its goal of a cervical cancer free state, within a fixed time frame. At all Mega Women's Health Camps including the twin camps at Koderma and Ranchi on November 3 and 4, 2018 respectively, arrangements were made to impart training with the assistance of experts from Chittaranjan Cancer Institute, Kolkata and Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi. to all  women doctors employed with the state health services on use of Cryo Machines and Colposcope for early detection and cure of cervical cancer, she said.

Worldwide statistics reveal that 7 women die of cervical cancer every hour and 16.8 percent of all cancer deaths amongst women is due to cervical cancer.  The statistics are significantly higher in case of deaths due to breast cancer. 10 women die of breast cancer every hour, and 24.2 percent of all cancer deaths of women is due to breast cancer. "Henceforth all Women Health Camps would include screening for women for not only anemia and cervical cancer, but also for breast cancer," Dr.Kashyap stressed.

At the Mega omen Health Camp at Koderma, on November 3,2018 , 554 women were screened of which 60 percent were found to be diagnosed with infections of their reproductive organs, whilst 12 women were diagnosed with pre cervical cancer.

At Ranchi, of the 300 women, screened, 4 women were diagnosed and treated for pre cervical cancer whilst another  60 percent, were found to be diagnosed with infection of their reproductive organs, Dr.Kashyap revealed.