Mobile Mammography Van of GMCH becomes operational.

Chandigarh 23^rd July:-- A breast cancer detection and Dexa scan cum awareness camp was held today at UHTC – 44 B ( Urban Health Training Center ) of GMCH – 32 here today. The screening was done via the Mobile Mammography Van (MMV) of GMCH 32.

The screening camp was attended by Home Secretary, Shri Anil Kumar, Director Principal and other senior faculty of GMCH. The HS commented that it is nice venture by GMCH for screening females for breast cancer and for bone density at the door step. He further added that in India females are very negligent about their health and are usually dependent on males for any health checkup. Therefore, with these facilities, the females can very well be catered. He also suggested to involve NGOS for generating awareness and doing camps in and around Chandigarh.

The Director Principal, Dr. Atul Sachdev told that due to some technical problems in Mobile Mammography Van, there was delay in making it operational. Now, the MMV screening camps would be done once a week at various areas of Chandigarh and the frequency of these camps would be increased in due course of time. He said that NGOS would also be actively involved in organizing screening camps in and around Chandigarh. The machinery that has been installed in this Van is with state of the art specification.

Dr. Sonia Puri, the Nodal Officer MMV unit cum Associate Professor GMCH, revealed that world wide breast cancer is the most common cancer and 1 in 8 women suffer from it. India is facing a breast cancer epidemic, owing to life style changes. The number of breast cancer cases in India is estimated to double by 2025 and in urban India it has already become the No. 1 cancer in females and in rural India it may supersede cervical cancer soon. Overall breast cancer, constitute about 22% of all cancers. She further added that the screening is very advantageous as early diagnosis increases the survival rate by 33%.

Around 25 beneficiaries were screened for Dexa scanning and 6 females of age group more than 40 years were subjected to mammography in today's screening camp.