Hospitals, healthcare organisations and rights groups in the city organised several awareness initiatives on the occasion of World Cancer Day on Tuesday here. The focus was on educating people about cancer and its causes .
Narayana Health launched a mobile mammography unit that will travel to remote areas in Karnataka to screen people for breast cancer and educate them on early detection. The mobile unit, named Ayana, was flagged off by Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader in the presence of Arghyam chairperson Rohini Nilekani.
Commenting on the launch, Devi Shetty, chairperson, Narayana Health, called it a step towards reaching out to the masses in order to create awareness about breast cancer. Healthcare Global Enterprises Ltd., the cancer care specialist hospital, organised an interactive event titled “Give Cancer a Knock-out Punch” by creating the structure of a cigarette on a punching bag. Participants punched the bag and pledged to create awareness on ill effects on tobacco consumption. Over 100 people participated in the event organised at various malls across the city.
Jagannath Dixit, Consultant, Surgical Oncologist, HCG, said that tobacco consumption is a serious issue among the young.
The Narain Sewa Sansthan organised a walkathon to create awareness in association with Bishop Carmel English School and the R.V. English School at Peenya Second stage. Scores of students from different institutions participated in the walkathon holding placards and distributing pamplets to create awareness about cancer. The traffic police in Peenya also participated in the rally.
