Cancer Awareness & Screening of 3000 Indian women

Dear Donors

Greetings from STEPS NGO

I am glad to present report of the project.

Cancer disease is preventable and treatable if detected early. In slums where healthcare is largely inaccessible, inadequate health centers, lack of knowledge and geographic barriers make it difficult for women to get screened for cancers. There are many women in need of screening and treatment in slums of srikalahasti, India. But lack of resources and other challenging life circumstances create significant barriers to access. STEPS break down these barriers in many ways by providing talks and training that explain the risk factors of cervical and breast cancers, the disease progression, treatment, and the importance of screening. Women living in MG Street slum, Srikalahsti urban area had received little information about their family health and knew very little about their own health in general. They do not know about the causes of Cervical and Breast cancers and how to prevent it and never had screening for cancers. The poorest people in slums live on approximately $2 per day, which simply does not permit paying for treatment, when there is a family to feed and other basic needs to meet.

 STEPS has working endlessly to change this and provide information and health services to slum women in need.  Organized Cancer awareness camp & screening camp for women at MG street slum. Explained them how to examine physically by themselves and ensuring  all women were able to undergo preventive screenings.

 Varalakshmi aged 28 years belonging to Srikalahasti slum community told  that STEPS medical team would be offering cancer prevention in STEPS Health Centre. She decided to attend STEPS Health Camp and undergo Breast cancer screening.  Varalakshmi admitted that “before STEPS health programs started in their slum, she didn’t actually know what cancers was, but thought she might have some illness and sometimes, because of ignorance, we don’t know what goes on inside us, and we can’t afford getting a checkup. So, when a STEPS arranged health camps and screening camps, we have attended those camps”She says “I learnt many things about Cancer related complications and precautions to be taken. This helped me to clarify all my misconceptions about cancers” After initial screening she was referred to SVRR Hospital, Tirupati for Mammogram.

It is because of supporters like yourself that we are able to provide these health services, saving women from cancers in Srikalahasti, India.  Thank you for supporting STEPS and bringing vital cancer education and screening to vulnerable women in Srikalahasti.

 Thanks & Regards

 Dr. P. Prameelamma

President, STEPS NGO