<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The fight against cancer by a village in Kerala has received global attention with the WHO's journal publishing a study about the community participatory approach in cancer control.</p><p>Study on 'Cancer Mukta Kannapuram' (Cancer free Kannapuram), a programme against Cancer at Kannapuram village in Kannur district of Kerala, has been published in WHO's South East Asia Journal as 'Kannapuram model'.</p>.Kerala govt introduces robotic surgery for cancer treatment.<p>Started in 2016, the Cancer free Kannapuram programme that involved frequent cancer screening for the people of the village, has been instrumental in early detection and cure of cancer for hundreds of people of the village, especially women.</p> <p>The Kannappuram panchayat and the Malabar Cancer Centre are jointly carrying out the programme. Similar initiatives of regular cancer and other lifestyle disease screening are now being carried out across the state.</p><p>According to the study published by WHO, 96 percent of the women above the age of 30 participated in the breast cancer screening camps and the detection rate was 0.96 per 1,000. Almost all were in the early stages. "Continuous community sensitisation about cancer, alleviation of fear and misconceptions, accessible and approachable screening program settings and an efficient patient navigation system, led by female members of the local self government institution, culminated in the successful 'Kannapuram model’, in terms of screening participation and treatment adherence," said the study.</p><p>Kannapuram grama panchayat president Rethi K told DH that the key success of the initiative was to do away with the fear and stigmas over cancer and making available regular screening camps.</p><p>"We initiated the programme after it came to our notice that many people in the panchayat were suffering from cancer, especially women, and many were reluctant to rule out suspicions owing to fear and stigma. The awareness camps really helped in addressing these issues. As a result 96 percent of women above the age of 30 could be screened," she said.</p><p>The initial focus was breast cancer and uterus related cancer. Now screening for mouth cancer and lung cancer are also being carried out.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: The fight against cancer by a village in Kerala has received global attention with the WHO's journal publishing a study about the community participatory approach in cancer control.</p><p>Study on 'Cancer Mukta Kannapuram' (Cancer free Kannapuram), a programme against Cancer at Kannapuram village in Kannur district of Kerala, has been published in WHO's South East Asia Journal as 'Kannapuram model'.</p>.Kerala govt introduces robotic surgery for cancer treatment.<p>Started in 2016, the Cancer free Kannapuram programme that involved frequent cancer screening for the people of the village, has been instrumental in early detection and cure of cancer for hundreds of people of the village, especially women.</p> <p>The Kannappuram panchayat and the Malabar Cancer Centre are jointly carrying out the programme. Similar initiatives of regular cancer and other lifestyle disease screening are now being carried out across the state.</p><p>According to the study published by WHO, 96 percent of the women above the age of 30 participated in the breast cancer screening camps and the detection rate was 0.96 per 1,000. Almost all were in the early stages. "Continuous community sensitisation about cancer, alleviation of fear and misconceptions, accessible and approachable screening program settings and an efficient patient navigation system, led by female members of the local self government institution, culminated in the successful 'Kannapuram model’, in terms of screening participation and treatment adherence," said the study.</p><p>Kannapuram grama panchayat president Rethi K told DH that the key success of the initiative was to do away with the fear and stigmas over cancer and making available regular screening camps.</p><p>"We initiated the programme after it came to our notice that many people in the panchayat were suffering from cancer, especially women, and many were reluctant to rule out suspicions owing to fear and stigma. The awareness camps really helped in addressing these issues. As a result 96 percent of women above the age of 30 could be screened," she said.</p><p>The initial focus was breast cancer and uterus related cancer. Now screening for mouth cancer and lung cancer are also being carried out.</p>