An initiative started in 2015, later strengthened by the Tata Trusts, addressed to 20 blocks of West Bengal creating access for over 100 cluster villages to around 5 lac population completing 61379 consultations. Progressively the trust stepped its foot forward and made its presence in the States of Jharkhand in 2019 and in Assam in early 2020.  

The program from the guidelines of the Global Action Plan of the World Health Organisations with clinical protocols and health advocacy aims at the risk reduction of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer & diabetes. The years 2018-2020 witnessed significant expansion of the activities offering 57218 consultations including 12786 children in diversified screenings.

Oral Health with portable tools for procedural support followed by Vision Screening and detection with innovative web based equipment’s connecting surgeons at the base sharing high resolution images for Refractive Errors, Glaucoma & Cataract also forms a core of the outreach initiative. Around 480 cataract surgeries have been facilitated completely free of charge in partnership with Lions Netra Niketan, Kolkata with postsurgical follow ups and spectacle distribution.

Onco Screening

Onco Screening has been driven in addressing to the early detection for the Oral Cancer in Adolescent school children and particularly the daily wagers having chewing habits.

Oral cancer is the 6th most commonest cancer that cripples a person and his family. With more than 1 million cases per year in India itself, people need more awareness programs about the cancer, its risk factors and causes, and treatments.

Oral cancer requires a medical diagnosis by a medical professional. Keeping this in mind, Aarogya Vahini Trust decided to undertake the mammoth tasks of creating awareness among people, and screening the more proned age group for oral cancer.

With an efficient team of dental and medical professionals who are the procedures were undertaken.

Oral Cancer Screening Procedures for –

• Although all the age groups irrespective of sex, are vulnerable to the oral cancer, the team took up to concentrate on the population starting from 16 year old age group of both male and female. 
• People who have a habit of consuming smoking and non smoking tobacco.
• Instruments used : Mouth mirror, probe, a pair of gloves and a bright source of white light.
• Method followed : 
•  Extra orally – Search for any lesion at the corner of lips, any ulcer on and around lips, any ulcer on any part of the face that do not heal. 
•  Intra orally – To check for red or white patches or mouth sores, feel the tissues in your mouth to check for lumps or other abnormalities and examining throat and neck for lumps. 
• Achievements till date : 
• Till date, approx 7500 persons have been screened for oral cancer. Among those screened, atleast 74 persons were found to be suspected of having precancerous lesions and conditions. These 74 individuals were advised to go for further investigations. Atleast, 2 persons were confirmed to be positiive.

Oral Cancer awareness program

Our medical and non medical team, are putting in constant effort in creating awareness among our rural population. Lectures and displaying of IEC materials depicting oral health and hygiene, anti tobacco messages, healthy habits are regularly done in our outreach camps to make the people aware of oral cancer.

Every month, around 4000 people benefits from our Oral Cancer Screening and Awareness program. We hope to carry on with this mission so that our rural Bengal shows way to the rest of the country in eradicating this deadly disease.

Breast Cancer Awareness Program :

The women population from the age group of 30 years

• Methods followed : Cinical breast examination was done by the doctors and nurses in feeling for lumps or other changes like thickening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness in the nipple area or breast, pulling in of the nipple, discharge from nipple other than milk, change in the shape or size of the breast or pain in the breast.
• Achievements : Till date, approx. 920 women were screened for breast cancer screening. Among these, atleast 25 were found to have suspected lesion and were advised to go for further investigation.
• Making the women aware of their health : Each woman who visited these camps, were taught to self exam their breast and also to get a regular check up done at a regular interval by a health care provider. They are adviced not to avoid going to the doctors for their check ups if they find anything suspicious.

Our rural women still find it a taboo to discuss their health with hope to bring about a change in their perception by continuous awareness campaigns. We wish to continue with our mission so that we can create healthy mothers for our future generation.

Cervical cancer is the malignant tumour of the cervix, the lowermost part of the uterus. It is a less common cancer when compared to skin and oral counterparts.

Though it may take several years to develop and is treatable at an early stage of detection, yet, once it turns malignant,it is deadly. Regular pap smear test and a HPV vaccine can prevent to take away lives.

Cervical Cancer Screening Program included :

1. Women from the age group of 30 years.
2. Women who have an irregular menstrual cycle.
3. Women suffering from foul smelling discharge from vagina.
4. Women who have multiple pregnancies.
5. Women who have multiple sex partners or their husbands have multiple sex partners.

• Methods followed : There are numerous procedures to early-detect cervical cancers. The one whichthe Aarogya Vahini team, followed was the VIA method and VILI method. The visual inspection techniques include Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid( noting for any colour change after the application of 5% glacial acetic acid) and Visual Inspection using Lugol’s stain. Abnormal tissue temporarily changes to white after application of acetic acid.
• Achievements : Till date, approx 500 women have been screened for Cervical Cancer among which atleast 80 individuals have been found to have suspected lesions. These suspected cases have been advised to for further investigations.