Gynaecology consultation and cervical cancer screening tests were undertaken on women from the Ashraya Distress Home based in San Thome at the ICARE Multi-Speciality Clinic in Alwarpet. The Mylapore MLA launched this camp recently.
This clinic is managed by Dr Nithya Ramachandran.
Inner Wheel Club Symohony initiated the camp with ICARE multi speciality clinic, said Sowmya Shankar, the club president.
Ashraya is a non-profit voluntary institution, functioning as a unit of Andhra Mahila Sabha in Chennai since 1986. It supports women in distress.
Dr Nithya Ramachandran says that while cervical cancer is preventable and treatable, early detection is vital and all that is required to be done is a simple test called pap smear.
While the test is simple, it costs – with labs charging anywhere between Rs.500 to Rs.1200. So many women from the lower strata of the society avoid the tests and so, by the time the cancer is detected, it is beyond repair and may need surgery, radiation therapy etc., says the doctor.
A test once every three years is suggested for women in the age group 21 to 65 years, says the doctor.
Once the test results done on the women who attended the camp are available, the women will be invited for follow up, and for free treatment based on their diagnosis.
