Chandigarh: Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao on Monday highlighted the state government’s ongoing initiatives to improve women’s health and reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer. She said that the government has implemented several measures to enhance awareness, ensure timely screening, and provide better treatment facilities for women across the state.
Speaking on the occasion of World Cancer Day and National Cancer Awareness Day, the Health Minister said that special campaigns are conducted annually to educate women about cervical cancer, including its risk factors, symptoms, early detection, and preventive measures. Medical officers, staff nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and frontline health workers are regularly trained to enhance the quality of screening, counseling, and follow-up care.
Understanding Cervical Cancer and Its Risks
Arti Singh Rao explained that cervical cancer originates in the lower part of the uterus (cervix) and is primarily caused by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), especially HPV-16 and HPV-18. She noted that major 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 include bleeding between periods, excessive or prolonged menstruation, post-menopausal bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, sudden weight loss, and pain during urination. She emphasized that early detection makes the disease largely treatable.
Screening and Treatment Initiatives in Haryana
Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), the Haryana Health Department is conducting regular screening for women aged 30 years and above in all 22 districts. This includes tests for hypertension, diabetes, and common cancers such as oral, breast, and cervical cancer.
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The screening employs a simple and effective Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) test, 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-level centers for further examination. Colposcopy facilities are operational at District Civil Hospitals in Ambala, Gurugram, Hisar, Jhajjar, Sirsa, and Sonipat. Advanced diagnostics, including Pap smear, FNAC, biopsy, CT scan, and MRI, are available at various district hospitals, while serious cases receive treatment at Government Medical Colleges and Regional Cancer Centres.
Impact So Far
According to the National NCD Portal, Haryana has screened a total of 2,274,802 women for cervical cancer to date. Among them, 1,153 women have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and are currently undergoing treatment.
The Health Minister reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that every woman receives timely screening and appropriate treatment, with the ultimate goal of eliminating cervical cancer at its roots.