Special ward for cancer screening, treatment at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Diagnosing cancer and offering adequate medical assistance are the core objectives of the OCS programme. It was initiated to focus on the well-being of the rural population, and Village Health Nurses (VHN) visit people at their doorsteps. If any symptoms are found, they are referred to CMCH for further examination. Around 50 people were referred to CMCH each week in the last two weeks, of which some were diagnosed with cancer.
To screen the referrals, the Regional Cancer Centre has formed a dedicated ward (ward number 63) where people can be checked for breast, oral and cervical cancer, and receive treatment. Doctors attached to the centre said they have organised cancer screening procedures and treatment under one roof to avoid inconveniencing the patients.
"Usually, those who have symptoms of oral cancer would be referred to the dental department; for breast cancer, they would be asked to visit the general surgery department, and cervical cancer would be diagnosed at the obstetrics and gynaecology (OG) department. However, we conduct all these procedures here under one roof. Also, we arrange for staff to take patients for a mammogram test. Once cancer is confirmed, we ring up the patients to come for treatment. The block medical officers are also informed, and they can coordinate the treatment procedures between the patients and us. All steps are interlinked to ease the entire procedure," said Dr N Selvaraj, associate professor of surgical oncology department.
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New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Special ward for cancer screening, treatment at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
COIMBATORE: Even as the state health department has intensified the Organised Cancer Screening (OCS) Programme across the district, the Regional Cancer Centre at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has started coordinating diagnosis and treatment procedures for those referred with basic cancer symptoms. Diagnosing cancer and offering adequate medical assistance are the core objectives of the OCS programme. It was initiated to focus on the well-being of the rural population, and Village Health Nurses (VHN) visit people at their doorsteps. If any symptoms are found, they are referred to CMCH for further examination. Around 50 people were referred to CMCH each week in the last two weeks, of which some were diagnosed with cancer. To screen the referrals, the Regional Cancer Centre has formed a dedicated ward (ward number 63) where people can be checked for breast, oral and cervical cancer, and receive treatment. Doctors attached to the centre said they have organised cancer screening procedures and treatment under one roof to avoid inconveniencing the patients. "Usually, those who have symptoms of oral cancer would be referred to the dental department; for breast cancer, they would be asked to visit the general surgery department, and cervical cancer would be diagnosed at the obstetrics and gynaecology (OG) department. However, we conduct all these procedures here under one roof. Also, we arrange for staff to take patients for a mammogram test. Once cancer is confirmed, we ring up the patients to come for treatment. The block medical officers are also informed, and they can coordinate the treatment procedures between the patients and us. All steps are interlinked to ease the entire procedure," said Dr N Selvaraj, associate professor of surgical oncology department.
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- The Hindu
Lack of birth control centres, shortage of vets, leads to spike in dog bites, rabies deaths across south India
Dog bite incidents remain a significant public health issue across southern India, with rabies-related deaths continuing to rise, despite various measures to control the problem. According to the government's response to the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2025, over 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected rabies deaths were recorded in 2024. The National Centre for Disease Control confirmed 37 lakh dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths that year. The government has placed the responsibility for managing the stray dog population on municipalities. In a written reply, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel stated that the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme is being implemented across the country to regulate stray dog numbers. However, despite ongoing sterilisation drives and vaccination campaigns, data from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Kerala indicate that the problem is far from resolved. The stray dog population continues to grow, and civic responses have been limited. The toll on human health In Tamil Nadu, for instance, the Directorate of Public Health reported a startling 1.24 lakh dog bite cases and four rabies deaths in just the first three months of 2025. The fatalities from rabies went up from 18 deaths in 2023 to 43 in 2024. By mid-2025, 18 rabies deaths had already been recorded, suggesting another year of high mortality. Despite these grim statistics, the State's sterilisation efforts are struggling to keep pace with the growing population of stray dogs. An official survey in Chennai estimated 1.8 lakh stray dogs in the city in 2024, though the actual number could be much higher. Experts recommend sterilising at least 90% of the dogs in a short period to break the reproductive cycle, but data from the Greater Chennai Corporation shows the number of sterilisations in 2023 was 14,885 and a marginal reduction in 2024, at 14,678. Meanwhile, in Karnataka, 2024 saw 3.6 lakh dog bite cases and 42 rabies deaths. This situation has persisted into 2025, with Bangalore Urban reporting 8,878 dog bites between January and June. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) region, which includes the city's core, recorded 13,831 cases in just six months. Although no rabies deaths were reported in these areas during this period, Bangalore Urban was responsible for 9 of the 19 Statewide rabies fatalities. The situation in the city, particularly in poorer areas, reflects the ongoing challenges in controlling the stray dog population, despite efforts in more affluent neighbourhoods where government agencies are active. In Telangana, Hyderabad has also seen a dramatic increase in dog bite cases, which more than doubled from 10,078 incidents in 2022 to 21,131 in 2024. The situation is dire, with Greater Hyderabad now reporting over 100 dog bites every day. Between 2021 and 2024, the State recorded over 3.3 lakh dog bite cases, with Hyderabad contributing significantly to this total. Local residents have expressed fear about letting their children play outside due to aggressive stray dogs. 'Only because I live in a society that has banned stray dogs can my child play safely within the complex,' said N. Sravani, mother of a five-year-old. In Kerala, the situation is similarly concerning. Dog bite cases have surged from 1.19 lakh in 2014 to around 3.16 lakh in 2024, more than doubling over the past decade. The increase in rabies-related deaths has been just as worrying: 25 deaths in 2023, 26 in 2024, and already 16 deaths in the first five months of 2025. Significantly, some of those who died had received rabies vaccinations, suggesting that in some cases, the virus reached the nervous system too quickly, rendering the vaccine ineffective. In response, the Kerala government has plans to deploy mobile ABC units across all 152 block panchayats, aiming to better control the stray dog population. For many, the fear of stray dogs is a daily reality, which makes even simple activities like taking children for walks or playing outside a daunting task. Challenges in controlling stray dog populations The ability to manage and control the stray dog population is hindered by several significant challenges. A crucial issue is the lack of adequate infrastructure, especially in terms of animal birth control centres, and the shortage of trained veterinary professionals. Shruti Vinod Raj, honorary member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board, said that Chennai alone needs 17 ABC centres to handle the growing number of stray dogs. At present, the city has only five, with plans for ten more. The existing centres are not enough to meet the demand, and only a fraction of the necessary sterilisation procedures are being carried out. Moreover, there is a significant shortage of qualified veterinarians to perform these essential procedures, says Ms. Raj. The lack of skilled professionals at these centres further exacerbates the problem. In response to this, the Animal Welfare Board and the Animal Husbandry Department are working to provide targeted training for veterinarians specifically to work at these centres, but this initiative is still in its early stages. Another major challenge comes in the form of bureaucratic red tape, which delays the establishment of new ABC centres. An animal welfare organisation in Hyderabad, which works with the local body for ABC, noted that proposals for setting up new centres may take years to be approved, leaving the stray dog population to proliferate unchecked in the meantime. In many cases, by the time a new centre is operational, the population of strays has grown significantly. Local residents, too, are noticing these gaps in the system. K. Guru, a resident of Bangalore, commented that while some affluent areas are seeing a reduction in stray dog numbers due to active government intervention, the situation in other parts of the city remains grim. 'In affluent neighbourhoods, there seems to be some progress in controlling the stray dog population. However, in other parts of the city, the problem is only worsening,' he said. Experts have called for a more coordinated, widespread response, involving better infrastructure, a larger number of trained veterinarians, and faster decision-making to address the issue comprehensively. Until these challenges are addressed, the rise in dog bite cases and rabies deaths is likely to persist.
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Hans India
Over 37 lakh dog bite cases in 2024: Centre steps up stray dog control measures
New Delhi: The Central government has intensified its efforts to manage the stray dog population and reduce dog bite incidents across the country. According to data presented in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel, India reported 37,17,336 dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths in 2024. Municipalities, under Article 243(W), are mandated to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, focusing on neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs. To streamline this, the government notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, superseding the earlier 2001 rules. These new rules incorporate Supreme Court and Delhi High Court directives, including guidelines for feeding and care of community animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued multiple advisories to ensure effective street dog population control and promote man-dog conflict resolution. Between 2024 and June 2025, 166 letters were sent to RWAs and local bodies to ensure compliance. On the health front, the Ministry of Health is implementing the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), which includes setting up Model Anti-Rabies Clinics, ensuring vaccine availability, and launching the "Rabies-Free City" initiative. Additionally, the Centre has allocated Rs 3,535.86 lakh over the past five years for anti-rabies vaccine procurement under the ASCAD scheme, including Rs 1,423.41 lakh in 2024-25 for over 80 lakh doses. The government has also urged States/UTs to adopt the ABC Programme through local bodies to enhance public safety, particularly for children. The Department of Animal Husbandry conducts a five-year livestock census, which includes stray dogs, while municipalities have been advised to conduct annual local censuses under the ABC Rules. The Centre's comprehensive approach aims to address both public health and animal welfare in tackling the growing stray dog issue.
