Punjab Oral Cancer Screening Project Gains Momentum
Punjab Health Department conducts State-Level workshop to review Oral Cancer Screening Project
Chandigarh: 21-11-2024
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Department conducted a State-Level Refresher Training-cum-Annual Review meeting with an aim to improve the outcomes of the Punjab STOP Oral Cancer Screening Project. District Dental Health Officers and Medical Officers (Dental) from across the state participated in the said workshop.
It is pertinent to mention here that to stem the rising cases of Oral Cancer in Punjab, the Health and Family Welfare Department had last year launched a project for Oral Cancer screening by training the Medical Officers (Dental) and ENT Surgeons.
Emphasising the importance of the project, Administrative Secretary Heath, Kumar Rahul said that keeping in view, the considerable incidence of Oral Cancer in the State and its high economic and social burden , the project was initiated in conjunction with the National Oral Health Program for Screening, Diagnosis and Referral chain for Oro-Maxillofacial and Pharyngeal Cancers .”ENT & Dental surgeons are in most cases, the first health-care professionals who come across with the symptoms of Oral & Pharyngeal cancers, during the oral examination of individuals reporting to Dental and ENT OPDs, therefore they can also screen and diagnose these Cancers.The project will prove to be a boon in early detection of oral cancer.” he added.
Underlining the future aspirations of the project Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Hitinder Kaur said that Hub and Spoke centres will soon be established for proper referral and treatment of oral cancer patients in the state.
Deputy Director (NP-NCD) Dr Jasbir Singh Aulukh said that the Punjab STOP Oral Cancer Screening Project is a crucial step towards combating oral cancer in the state. With continued efforts and collaboration, the project aims to achieve its objectives and improve the health and well-being of Punjab’s citizens.
State Program Officer (NP-NCD) Dr Gagandeep Grover and State Program Officer (NOHP) Dr Navroop Bajwa discussed gaps and issues in the reporting and data that need to be addressed to
improve Oral Cancer Screening .
Dr Ashish Gulia, Director Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Sangrur, Dr Amit Aggarwal Associate professor and Head of Dentistry Department AIMS Mohali, Dr Saikat Chakraborty Oral and Maxillofacial pathologist and Dr Vandita Pahwa Assistant professor Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, gave detailed presentations to train the participants on various aspects of oral cancer screening.
Director Medical Education and Research Dr Avnish Kumar and Director Principal AIMS Mohali Dr Bhavneet Bharti were amongst the special invitees to the workshop.
