In a significant boost to women's healthcare, Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency has rolled out a major door-to-door breast cancer screening drive. The initiative, named 'Namo Shakti Rath', is inspired by the Prime Minister's vision for a 'Healthy Woman–Empowered Family' and aims to provide free, accessible preventive care directly to women's doorsteps.
Bridging the Healthcare Gap with Mobile Vans
Chief Development Officer Prakhar Kumar Singh stated that the programme is designed to tackle the serious health, social, and economic challenge posed by breast cancer, the most common cancer among Indian women. With lakhs of new cases reported annually and nearly 60% detected at an advanced stage, early intervention is critical. The initiative seeks to implement WHO-recommended best practices locally.
Officials identified mobile screening vans as the most effective solution to overcome barriers like distance, cost, time constraints, and social hesitation prevalent in rural and semi-urban areas. Twenty specially equipped Namo Shakti vans will be deployed to ensure equitable, dignified, and accessible healthcare for women who have previously lacked regular health services.
AI-Powered, Non-Invasive Screening Technology
The screening will utilise an advanced, AI-powered thermal imaging technology called Thermalytics. This method is non-invasive, radiation-free, and contactless, making it exceptionally safe and suitable for large-scale community screening drives. The technology represents a fusion of policy, technology, and ground-level execution, as noted by officials.
The programme is being implemented under the guidance of Divisional Commissioner S. Rajalingam and District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar, in collaboration with the ITV Foundation. Detailed planning for van routes and schedules has been undertaken in close coordination with the district administration and health department.
Grassroots Mobilisation and Wide Coverage
Chief Medical Officer Dr Rajesh Prasad emphasised the key role of frontline health workers. ASHA workers, ANMs, Community Health Officers, and panchayat personnel will be instrumental in community mobilisation, raising awareness, and facilitating screenings at designated locations.
The initiative is launching across 290 gram panchayats, 92 wards of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, and 12 wards of Gangapur. It is projected to cover approximately 7.5 lakh women above the age of 18.
A Model for Preventive Healthcare
Authorities expect the Namo Shakti Rath drive to significantly improve early detection rates, ensure better follow-up and quality treatment, and build greater public trust in healthcare systems. With action plans finalised in officer-level meetings, the programme is being viewed as a potential model for women-centric preventive healthcare that could be replicated not just in Varanasi, but across Uttar Pradesh and the entire nation.
This coordinated effort marks a proactive step towards changing the narrative of breast cancer diagnosis in India, shifting the focus from late-stage treatment to early, life-saving detection.
