Launch of Early Cancer Screening Initiative in Bolangir District Odisha
We successfully rolled out the Early Cancer Screening Initiative, at Ghasian Community Health Centre (CHC), situated in Patnagarh block, Bolangir district of Odisha, on the 8th of June 2026.
As part of our visit the 2HT team, had a very fruitful discussion with the District Magistrate and Collector Bolangir, Shri Gaurav Shivaji Isalwar, IAS, Dr. Pushpanjali Mishra, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bolangir, and Shri Rajeshwar Rao Patnaik, District Program Manager (DPM), NHM Bolangir. The meeting focused on reviewing the outputs and outcomes of the program, operational planning, implementation timelines, capacity building, and long term strategies, to strengthen community based cancer screening, early detection of cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and a fast track referral, diagnosis and treatment process.
The deliberations reinforced a shared commitment towards establishing a sustainable model, for early cancer detection, ensuring timely identification, referral, and management of individuals at risk, while strengthening public health systems at the grassroots level.
We are delighted with the support we received from the district authorities and look forward to working closely in gradually scaling up the program, to all the 14 blocks of the district. The pilot will cover a population of around 25000 people, under 5 sub-centres, of Ghasian Primary Health Centre (PHC).