Wellness on Wheels

Rotary Club of Madras East, RI District 3230, donated Aarogyam Bus, a mobile cancer screening unit, to an NGO, Penn Nalam, on International Women’s Day. The vehicle costing Rs 45,00,000 would be used by the NGO to reach out to women to sensitise them about early detection of cancer which is vital for effective treatment.

Carnatic vocalist Padma Bhushan Sudha Ragunathan was the chief guest at the dedication event. Describing the bus, the club Secretary Janaka Pushpanathan informed that it was made possible through a global grant with RC San Antonio, Texas, the DDF of Rotary District 5840 and TRF. Women between ages 25 to 80 will be screened and involved in the awareness programmes. To be able to detect breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer and their precursor conditions, the bus contains an examination couch, medical instruments and equipment for whole-body medical examination of women, a portable ultrasound machine and a biochemistry analyser. The data will be computerised and will help in future follow up and treatment of high-risk patients. The bus would also be used for collecting epidemiological data on cancer.

Speaking at the launch DG ISAK Nazar said that partnerships between Rotary clubs and such NGOs would play a huge role in “creating sustainable impact in healthcare, especially for economically disadvantaged communities.”

Sudha Ragunathan, in her address, emphasised on the “joy of giving” and urged the Rotaractors of Stella Maris College, to “give by starting early.”