Meghalaya to complete cancer awareness, detection by March 2013

New Delhi, July 12 : The entire population of Meghalaya will be covered by a cancer awarness and detection drive through India's first fully equipped mobile cancer detection unit by March 2013.

The U.K.-based MKC Roko Cancer Trust in partnership with the Government of Meghalya is undertaking this project, said Dr.Puneet Gupta, Senior Medical Advisor, Apollo Cancer Institute.

Meghalaya is the first Indian State to launch a cancer screening campaign for the entire state, he added

Around one lakh people will be provided free awareness about cancer and free detection camps would be orgnised at remote villages to initiate a drive to fight breast, cervix and oral cancer. In all, seven districts of Meghalya will be covered by December 2010.

The screening campaign was launched on April 15, 2010 at the Civil Hospital, Shillong

Dr.Gupta said two state-of-the-art mobile cancer detection units worth Rs 2 crore have been provided by the MKC Roko Cancer Trust to Meghalaya Government. These units have been stationed at Shillong and Tura, and would travel to various places whenever free cancer awareness and detection camps are conducted.

The first unit would cover the Khasi region and the second unit would cover the Garo region.

A team of doctors and volunteers will travel with the unit providing free detection facilities and further investigation test to the people at their doorstep. . This facility would be provided free of cost.

The MKC Roko Cancer Trust has covered eight Indian states so far, including Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.