Phulkari CAN, the philanthropic wing of Phulkari WOA, a leading women’s organisation of Amritsar, conducted its 44th Cervical Cancer Awareness Session at Guru Nanak Dev University with the special efforts of Vice Chancellor Jaspal Singh Sandhu. The event was conducted on 20th January to mark World Cervical Cancer Awareness Day under its Conquer Cancer program.More than 350 people were made aware of the simple measures that can be adopted to prevent this 100% percent preventable cancer. The session was conducted by Dr.Mridu Gupta, CEO CAPED &Dr. Rajeev Gupta DNB Medical Oncology, Medical Oncologist &Hematologist.The session was attended by eminent dignitaries including Commissioner of Police, Dr.Sukhchain Singh Gill and esteemed members of medical fraternity including Dr. Santokh Singh Dr.InderbirNijjer&Dr.JasjitChachhi. Prof. Hardip Singh, Dean Student's Welfare, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Dr. Pawan Sharma, Dr. Baljinder Singh, Dr. Kirandeep Kaur and Dr. Dinesh Sharma were present on this occasion.Dr.Santokh Singh applauding the efforts of Phulkari CAN said, “The City of Amritsar is suddenly all ears to the awareness & the need to know how to properly educate their children & how women should look after their health, particularly to ward off Cervical Cancer.The credit for this, & more, must go to The ladies of Amritsar who have formed themselves into the now famous Organisation called “Phulkari” with its subsidy “Phulkari CAN.”These young ladies have taken upon themselves a Herculean task & each one of them, with their sincerity, dedication & constant hard work, are going to achieve some amazing results.
Amritsar- you are in for great progress!” Dr Rajeev Gupta , Senior consultant medical oncologist and hematologist, while expressing his concern about cervical cancer said, “ its need of hour to outreach the potential population for screening and early detection of cervical cancer and treatment. Being a AIDS defining illness, its mandatory to educate the masses about safe sexual practices to avoid HPV infection and subsequent Cervical cancer. Since its a preventable cancer , vaccination against HPV will prevent about 70% of cervical ,80% of Anal cancers, 60% of vaginal cancers and about 90% genital warts in population, hence vaccination should be mandated and included in national immmunisation programme by Government of India and Punjab Government.”Phulkari CAN commenced its drive to eradicate Cervical Cancer in Punjab in September, 2018 along with knowledge partner, CAPED. Within 1 year of its operations, Conquer Cancer Program heads, Dr. Rashmi Vij, Priyanka Goel&Raminder Grover have been able to organise 44 awareness sessions at several prestigious institutions of Amritsar and have brought 1,60,000 people under the umbrella of Cervical Cancer Awareness. About 250 underprivileged women have been provided free Cervical Cancer screening. With its unique method of operation, the sessions are conducted in such a manner that they make ordinary citizens into citizens who care about and give back to society. Phulkari CAN also runs programs to educate underprivileged children, create environmental awareness & establish libraries. It attracts the youth & women of the city in its fold to engage in activities dedicated to giving back to society.Phulkari CAN, through Conquer Cancer, continues to work towards fulfilling its grand dream of seeing Punjab become the first cervical cancer free state of Punjab.