We started the cancer prevention and early detection program in Janakpur in December 2018 with focus on community education and awareness building campaigns for screening services. Due to poor health literacy and limited access to healthcare facilities and trained healthcare providers, the majority of the residents of this region are ignorant about the causes, prevention, and early detection of some of the most common cancers such as breast cancer and cervical cancer. Under this program, patients receive cervical cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer screening services.
Cancer prevention and early detection services require trained healthcare providers as well as advanced radiology and laboratory equipment. Therefore, the development of radiology services, laboratory services, and healthcare provider training will concurrently take place while the cancer prevention and early detection services are being established. An anti-tobacco campaign and smoking cessation services are also being offered as part of the cancer prevention and early detection program. We expect the cancer prevention and early detection service to be fully developed by December 2019.