On Wednesday a three day camp of the Cancer Alleviation Foundation (CALF), Save Our Daughters India (SODI), Abdul Kalam International Foundation (AKIF) and Paterson Cancer Centre (PCC) have jointly organized a cancer awareness and detection camp in the island as per the wishes of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan has inaugurated the screening camp, 110 people, including 40 women, above 40 years of age were screened for various types of cancers, heart diseases, tuberculosis and hypertension and it was a free camp and the tests were also conducted free of cost.
Dr. S.V.S. Bala has told that the samples which were collected at the camps were being sent to a laboratory in Chennai for analysis, and after obtaining the results, the organizers would initiate follow-up action by conducting monthly camps with a set of doctors, Mr. Ramesh and camp organizer.
Sources have stated that of the 110 people screened in Rameswaram, two were detected for oral cavity cancer, four for suspected breast glands and one each for defective heart valve, tuberculosis and hypertension, and those who required further treatment were advised to visit Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) in Madurai or the PCC in Chennai.
