Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 18: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will conduct a citywide free breast cancer screening campaign on July 22, setting up screening camps in all 227 municipal wards to promote early detection among women aged 30 years and above.
The camps will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the civic body deploying more than 2,000 healthcare personnel to carry out the large-scale initiative.
Each ward will have a dedicated medical team consisting of two doctors, two nurses and two health workers. In addition to breast examinations, women attending the camps will also undergo basic health assessments, including blood pressure and body weight checks. The initial screening is expected to take approximately five minutes per participant.
Women requiring additional evaluation after the preliminary examination will be referred for mammography at KEM Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital), the two BMC-run facilities equipped with the required diagnostic services.
According to civic officials, breast cancer accounts for more than one-fourth of all cancer cases among Indian women, making timely diagnosis and treatment essential. The campaign has been launched to increase awareness about the disease while facilitating early identification of suspected cases.
The screening drive will involve doctors from BMC's major and suburban hospitals, along with specialists from private healthcare institutions, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Tata Memorial Centre. Officials said the participating doctors have received specialised training from Tata Memorial Centre to ensure uniform and effective screening procedures.
To maximise participation, the BMC will also conduct an extensive awareness campaign through its municipal schools, anganwadis, health workers and community outreach programmes.
Pregnant women have been advised to undergo breast cancer screening at their nearest maternity home or hospital instead of attending the ward-level camps.
Appealing to women across the city, Tawde urged those aged 30 years and above, including homemakers and working professionals, to make use of the free screening programme and prioritise preventive healthcare through early detection.