In a determined push to reduce rising cancer cases through early detection, Andhra Pradesh has launched an intensified screening campaign under the fourth phase of its Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) programme.
Speaking on National Cancer Awareness Day, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian urged women across the state to utilise the government’s free cancer screening services, stressing that early testing can save lives. At the event, Veerapandian and NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha unveiled specially designed invitation cards encouraging women to undergo screening. These cards, featuring details of date, time, and venue, will be distributed door-to-door by medical staff across rural and urban households.
The Comprehensive Cancer Care Programme, launched on November 14, 2024, under the NCD 3.0 survey, is Andhra Pradesh’s first household-level cancer screening initiative. It aims to improve awareness, build healthcare capacity, and ensure timely detection.
More than 20,000 medical personnel and frontline workers have been trained, and Preventive Oncology Units (POUs) are functioning in all 17 government medical colleges, offering same-day evaluation through a green-channel system.
To date, over 70% of adults have been screened for cancers, hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia. The drive has identified 2 lakh suspected cases, generated 4,500 referrals, and confirmed 783 cancer patients. Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu launched the fourth round of NCD screening on September 17 with a focus on cancer detection.
Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav has also initiated a state-wide awareness campaign, while the new “Invitation Card System” aims to encourage women aged 30 and above to participate in dignified cervical cancer screening.
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