211 women from 50 villages attended camps in Hoskote Taluk Hospital & 4 telehealth clinics supported by AkzoNobel India. Screening conducted by Medical Tactile Examiners trained under Discovering Hands Project, National Association of the Blind (NAB)
Bengaluru, Karnataka Dec 26, 2022 (Issuewire.com) - With the support of Häfele and Bayer Foundation India, the Telerad Foundation organised free breast cancer screening camps for 211 women covering over 50 villages. Screenings were conducted at 4 comprehensive telehealth clinics supported by AkzoNobel India and at the Taluk Hospital, Hoskote. Clinical breast examinations were conducted by Medical Tactile Examiners trained by the Discovering Hands Project, National Association of the Blind (NAB), and supported by Bayer Foundation India.
The incidence of breast cancer in India is reaching alarming levels: 2020 WHO study[1] indicates that about 7% of cancer-related deaths worldwide are caused by breast cancer. In India, the figures are much worse - breast cancer is estimated to cause between 13% and 15% of cancer-related deaths. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare[2] ranks breast cancer as having the highest incidence among Indian women, with a rate as high as 25.8 per 100,000 women and only a 50% survival rate. Late detection is the primary reason for this high mortality rate. Early diagnosis and treatment of cancerous tumours of the breast lead to remission in most cases and hence plays a vital role in addressing this burgeoning crisis.
"In breast cancer, early detection is paramount in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Today, in India, most breast cancer cases are unfortunately diagnosed at a late stage, partly due to the shortage of radiologists required to interpret mammograms for the early detection of breast cancer," explains Dr. Arjun Kalyanpur, Co-founder, of The Telerad Group.
The challenge, inconvenience, and expense of obtaining a mammogram or undergoing a clinical examination by a physician often lead women, particularly in rural and semi-rural areas, to avoid getting screened for breast cancer. To overcome these, the Discovering Hands project, founded by Dr.
Frank Hoffman in Germany in 2006, has trained over 100,000 visually impaired women as Medical Tactile Examiners (MTEs) to perform clinical breast examinations to detect early signs of breast abnormalities without the need for expensive machinery or access to a full-fledged medical facility. The Discovering Hands project came to India in 2015 and is implemented by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) and the Centre for Blind Women and Disability Studies. This project is supported by the Bayer Foundation India.
Extending the reach of this project further, the Telerad Foundation organised a free breast cancer screening camp for a minimum of 210 women aged 35 and above, resident in approximately 50 villages in the Hoskote taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, from the 7th to the 24th of December 2022. Patients visiting the camp underwent a painless, machine-free clinical examination by trained MTEs from the Discovering Hands project. Camp attendees were also taught self-examination techniques. Those whose clinical breast examinations yielded a potential finding received free gynaecological consultation by physicians of RxDx.
The official sponsor of the initiative is Häfele India Private Limited. Padma Gupta, Director - Human Resources and Customer Experience, South Asia states, " Hafele India has always been committed to the cause of women - be it by encouraging more employees in the Team, supporting the underprivileged girls on hygiene, especially with a focus on health and mortality. Those initiatives once again resonate with what the Hafele Values stand for, with a special focus on women's wellness. Joining hands with Bayer to create more awareness and contributing back to the society where we still need to do more for women's Health is directly what our CSR pledge stands for. Hafele is proud to be a partner in the "Discovering Hands" program.
The camps are being held at the 4 popular comprehensive telehealth clinics already operating in Begur, Karahalli Yeshwanthpura, Kurbarahalli, and CT Golahalli villages under the Telerad Foundation's eAarogyaKendra project, supported by AkzoNobel India, and the Taluk Government Hospital in Hoskote.
The camp kicked off with a formal 1-hour inauguration event beginning on December 7th at 9:30 AM by Dr. Sathish, CMO, Govt Taluk Hospital, Bengaluru (R). The participants included doctors, the nursing team, ASHA workers, other social workers, and women patients. Attendees were given an overview of breast cancer screening and its vital role in fighting the scourge of this devastating illness. Other speakers included representatives of Bayer Foundation India, AkzoNobel India, camp sponsor Häfele, and the Telerad Foundation.
About Häfele India:
Häfele India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Häfele Global network and has been operating in India since 2003. An authority in the field of architectural hardware, furniture, and kitchen fittings and accessories, the company also has a strong presence in synergized product categories like Home Appliances, Interior and Furniture Lighting, Sanitary Solutions, and Surfaces, positioning itself strongly as a complete solution provider for interior solutions in India and South Asia. Hafele India has a strong nationwide presence with offices in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, and Cochin. It has full-scale operations in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh with Regional offices and Design Showrooms in both countries. It has also spread its operations to other regions of South Asia, including Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives.
It aspires to always be at the forefront of social and environmental responsibility by bringing about a difference in its stakeholders' lives through its CSR focus areas of education and livelihood, health, and the environment.
About the Telerad Foundation
Established in 2007, the Telerad Foundation is a global not-for-profit social organisation working to make high-quality healthcare accessible to people everywhere. We design, develop, and run CSR, PPP, and Philanthropic projects.
For more information, please contact
Mr. Ashwani K Sinha, Chief Impact Officer, Telerad Foundation
T +91 989 904 6782; E ashwani.sinha@telerad.group
[1] Globocan 2020, International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO.
[2] Varghese, C. Cancer Prevention and Control in India. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Media Contact
Mr Ashwani K Sinha, Telerad Foundation
Plot No. 7G, Council Khata 180/63,Vishveswaraiah Industrial Area,Kundalahalli-ITPL Main Road,Opp. Graphite India, Whitefield
Source :The Telerad Foundation
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