Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam with Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone organises Samajikam 2025
Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) organised Samajikam 2025 with the theme of 'Empowering Communities Through CSR,' here on Saturday.
AMTZ founder CEO and MD Jitendra Sharma inaugurated the event.
He said, 'Both AMTZ and Rotary are built on the foundation of service— one through healthcare innovation, and the other through humanitarian action. This partnership is a strategic convergence. Our assistive technology centre, community health initiatives and Made in India hospitals are the instruments of empowerment. Together with Rotary's 120-year legacy and AMTZ's vibrant innovations, we can scale social impact and transform lives across the world.'
Rotary's district governor, M. Venkateswara Rao, said, 'With 1.4 million rotarians globally and deep-rooted grassroots presence, Rotary is uniquely positioned to amplify the impact of CSR. Our collaboration with AMTZ—a beacon of indigenous innovation—is a leap toward holistic, tech-enabled social change.'
Rotary Club Visakhapatnam also launched 'Amruth,' a flagship CSR initiative to protect adolescent girls from HPV and prevent cervical cancer. Led by Muralikrishna of Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital, the programme has already vaccinated over 1,000 girls.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
a day ago
- News18
India Bets On Jan Aushadhi Kendras For HPV Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Adds 116 New Drugs
Last Updated: The list also includes medicines for heart diseases, diabetes, epilepsy, apart from various other types of cancers The government's plan a roll out a nationwide HPV vaccination drive for girls to prevent cervical cancer remains stalled due to insufficient vaccine stock. To tide over the problem, the Narendra Modi government's flagship affordable generic drugs scheme, Jan Aushadhi, has now decided to include the HPV or Human Papillomavirus among 116 new medicines being added to its portfolio. The final list of medicines, accessed by News18, lists the recombinant HPV quadrivalent vaccine, which is effective against diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. '…used for the prevention of HPV-associated cancers, such as cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancer", mentions the document in the category of usage of the drug. The vaccine is expected to be available at subsidised rates through Jan Aushadhi outlets. The objective of the planned offering is to offer timely access, even as the national rollout remains uncertain. 'While the meeting to discuss the status of the roll-out of the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls (aged 9 to 14 years) is expected to take place during the last week of June, there is no update from the Serum Institute of India (SII) on the requested quantity of vaccine doses. Without them, we cannot decide timelines or go ahead," a senior government official told News18. Meanwhile, the Union government is trying to expand access to HPV vaccines via Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). 'The scheme has just rolled out the tender for marketing the HPV vaccine as part of the initiative to add 116 more medicines to its existing bouquet of over 2,100 drugs and 315 surgical and medical devices," another senior government official said, adding that the price of the vaccine available at Jan Aushadhi retail outlets may not be steeply discounted. However, it remains unclear how the tendering procedure will work as in India, only the Serum Institute of India is currently the licensed manufacturer of the HPV vaccine. For the private market in India, the HPV vaccine from SII — Cervavac — typically costs Rs 4,000 per dose. Other Medicines on the List The Jan Aushadhi scheme offers generic drugs priced at 50–90 per cent lower than their branded counterparts in the market. The new list of medicines will be available at 16,500 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India by September. 'It takes three to six months to complete the procurement procedure and bring medicines onto the retail shelf. The list was finalised in March, and now the tendering process is underway," the second official said. A significant portion of the medicines being added are for the treatment of heart disease and diabetes — two of India's most pressing health challenges. While India is often called the 'Diabetes Capital of the World,' with over 74 million adults affected, it also accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the world's heart disease burden. The list also includes several cancer drugs, including Ibrutinib, used in the treatment of blood cancer and costing between Rs 7,000 and Rs 9,500, which severely hurts the pocket of middle and lower-income class patients and families. Also, the list includes Abiraterone Acetate, a drug used in the treatment of prostate cancer, blood cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and also prescribed in some cases of sickle cell anaemia. A bottle of 60 tablets of the drug costs around Rs 35,000. With inclusion under the scheme, the prices of these drugs—in their generic version—are expected to fall by at least 50 per cent. Several other drugs for therapeutic categories such as the central nervous system, epilepsy and seizures, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anti-allergy and bone deficiencies are also part of the list. In March, Union health minister JP Nadda said the scheme is helping over 10 lakh people access affordable medicines, leading to cumulative savings of Rs 30,000 crore. While the scheme has been helping those, who cannot afford branded medicines, if it manages to offer quality cancer drugs and the HPV vaccine at discounted prices, it could set a significant benchmark for public health affordability and access. First Published:
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Know the truth: Common myths about cervical cancer explained
According to Globocon 2020, cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer amongst women globally. India alone accounts for one-quarter of the global burden, with an estimated 1,23,907 new cases and 77,348 deaths Today spoke with Dr Pratima Raj, Associate Consultant – Gynaecological Oncology, Manipal Hospital Old Airport gain insights on the most common misconceptions surrounding cervical cancer and why awareness is key to early detection and considerable awareness campaigns and media attention on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, the topic remains riddled with misinformation. Myths persist around screening, vaccines, and HPV itself, often preventing timely intervention. With the right information, however, cervical cancer is largely preventable and HPV ONLY AFFECTS PROMISCUOUS WOMEN Fact: HPV can affect any sexually active woman. Even one sexual partner is enough to contract HPV. Studies reveal that over 80 percent of women will acquire HPV by age HAVING HPV MEANS YOU'LL GET CERVICAL CANCERFact: While HPV is common, most infections resolve on their own. Only persistent high-risk strains can lead to cancerous changes. Regular screening helps detect these HPV INFECTIONS HAVE SYMPTOMSFact: Most HPV infections are asymptomatic. High-risk strains often go unnoticed unless caught through Pap smears or HPV symptoms of cervical cancer (if present) include abnormal discharge, irregular or heavy bleeding, post-coital bleeding, and pelvic or abdominal SCREENING IS THE ONLY PREVENTIVE MEASUREadvertisementFact: In addition to Pap tests and HPV testing, lifestyle factors play a role. Avoiding smoking, delaying sexual activity, and limiting partners can reduce risk. Other risk factors include chlamydia or HIV infections and weakened VACCINATED WOMEN DON'T NEED PAP TESTSFact: The HPV vaccine doesn't protect against all cancer-causing strains. Even vaccinated women should continue regular Pap and HPV PAP TESTS ARE NEEDED ANNUALLYFact: Current guidelines recommend:Ages 21–29: Pap test every 3 yearsAges 30–65: Pap + HPV co-test every 5 years65 and older: screening may stop if past tests were normalMYTH: HPV CLEARS ON ITS OWNFact: While some infections resolve naturally, others persist and can lead to genital warts or monitoring is CERVICAL CANCER ENDS FERTILITYFact: Fertility-preserving treatments are now available for early-stage cases.A hysterectomy is not always CERVICAL CANCER IS HEREDITARYFact: Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, not inherited like breast or ovarian and screening remain the best ONLY WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS ARE AT RISKFact: Even one sexual encounter can expose someone to is a sexually transmitted infection, not a moral LONG GAPS IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY ELIMINATE RISKadvertisementFact: Cervical cancer can develop long after infection, regardless of recent sexual PAP TESTS DETECT OVARIAN OR UTERINE CANCERFact: Cervical screening only checks the does not detect cancers of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian HPV VACCINES ARE ONLY FOR TEENAGERSFact: The vaccine is most effective before sexual activity, but still beneficial for those already sexually ONLY WOMEN SHOULD WORRY ABOUT HPVFact: All genders are vulnerable to is recommended for ages 9– CONDOMS FULLY PREVENT HPVFact: Condoms reduce but don't eliminate the risk due to skin-to-skin CERVICAL CANCER IS ALWAYS FATALFact: When detected early, treatment is highly effective, and survival rates are OLDER WOMEN ARE NOT AT RISK OF HPVFact: HPV can affect anyone, regardless of THERE'S NO CURE FOR CERVICAL CANCERSurgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can be curative, especially in early stages. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is largely preventable and highly treatable when detected vaccination, regular screening, and healthy lifestyle choices, women (and all who are at risk) can dramatically reduce their chances of developing this disease. Armed with facts rather than fears, every woman can take charge of her reproductive health and help ensure that cervical cancer becomes a chapter of the past, not the Reel
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Breast, cervical cancer cases surge in Coimbatore district
Coimbatore: There is an alarming rise in breast and cervical cancer cases in the district. If the data available with the 13 govt hospitals that screen for breast and cervical cancers in Coimbatore is anything to go by, the test positivity rate is steadily increasing by 2% to 4% every year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Nowadays, women, irrespective of their age group, are vulnerable for breast and cervical cancers. Early menstruation, late menopause and obesity are major reasons for breast cancer. Women consuming excessive fatty foods and alcohol could also contract breast cancer. Women with poor vaginal hygiene, multiple sexual partners and multiple child births are at the risk of contracting cervical cancer," says Dr P Guhan, director and chief oncologist, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital. As per the data gathered from the 13 govt hospitals, 1,164 women were tested positive for cervical cancer in the district in 2024-25, against 726 in 2023-34 and 484 in 2022-23. The hospitals employ the VIA (visual inspection with acetic acid) screening method to diagnose cervical cancer. "The positive cases are referred to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) for further treatment. The data shows that there is a rise in cervical cancer cases in the semi urban and rural areas of the district every year. Hence, screening for the same should be beefed up in the villages and suburban areas. Early detection is very important to cure cancers," said an official with the Public Health Department. Similarly, the district has recorded an increase in breast cancer cases to 842 in 2024-25 from 623 in 2023-24 and 517 in 2022-23. According to the oncologists, breast cancer cases are high in urban areas, while rural areas top the district in cervical cancer cases. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Only early detection and treatment could cure these cancers, which could be caused by lifestyle changes and diet as well," they say. A Nirmala, dean, CMCH, said it was advisable for every woman under the reproductive age to get vaccinated with HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and take a pap smear test. "Women above the age of 30 should do a mammogram annually or at least once in two years. Usually, cancer cells take a couple of years to reach 1cm in size and become visible. Hence, annual screening is a preventive measure." These days, she says, chemotherapy, surgery and most other treatments are covered under the chief minister's comprehensive health insurance scheme both in govt and private hospitals. "Despite all these facilities, a few people refuse to get diagnosed."
