Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Vedanta’s BALCO Medical Centre champions early detection and stigma-free dialogue across communities
30th October 2024
- This year’s campaign ‘Sharm Chodho, Gaantho Pe Bolo’ inspires proactive breast health steps and open community dialogue through screenings, outreach, and expert insights.
New Delhi, October 30, 2024: To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Vedanta’s BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), one of India’s leading cancer care hospitals, launched a comprehensive awareness initiative titled “शर्म छोड़ो, गांठो पे बोलो” (Sharm Chodho, Gaantho Pe Bolo), aimed at encouraging early detection and removing the stigma surrounding breast cancer. With a range of programs including health checkups, a bike rally, free mammography screenings, and educational podcasts to promote early detection and community awareness around the disease, BMC focused on educating the public about the disease and encouraging proactive measures for prevention and screening.
Throughout the month, the BMC offered free digital mammography screenings to promote early detection and awareness of the disease to women. In the last week of October, BMC’s Mobile Cancer Detection Van organised health screening camps for women over the age of 45 in neighbouring villages. These camps raised awareness about the importance of routine check-ups and provided education on self-breast examination, helping attendees understand the significance of proactive breast health.
To further engage the community, a Breast Cancer Awareness Bike Rally was organised that saw participants from 10 biking groups with roughly 270 riders, followed by a tree plantation drive symbolising hope and growth, highlighting the community’s commitment to supporting breast cancer awareness and fostering a healthier future for all. Additionally, BMC amplified these activities on social media, where it shared campaign highlights, an awareness carousel, and expert-led videos.
Underscoring the impact of the BALCO Medical Centre’s efforts, Dr Bhawna Sirohi, Medical Director of BMC, said, “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a crucial time to inspire greater monitoring, timely interventions and open conversations about breast health. With ‘Sharm Chodho, Gaantho Pe Bolo,’ we aim to break the silence around breast health, empowering women to recognise early signs and take action without hesitation. By fostering open discussions and providing accessible screenings, we aim to help communities understand that early detection can be life-saving and ultimately improve outcomes for those affected by breast cancer.”
To take this education far and wide, Dr. Bhawna Sirohi also participated in a podcast discussion on the importance of breast cancer awareness. She further engaged BMC employees in a townhall discussion, where they discussed their role in providing supportive care for patients and families. Employees dressed in Pink to showcase their support for the cause, and engaged in meaningful discussions around how they can contribute to awareness and patient support, beyond their primary roles.
Since its inception in 2018, Vedanta Aluminium’s state-of-the-art cancer treatment center has established itself as a national leader in India’s oncological care landscape. With breast cancer being the most common cancer globally, accounting for around 2.3 million new cases each year, BMC’s initiatives are crucial in raising awareness and fostering community engagement. The health screening camps offered vital services to employees and rural women, while the bike rally symbolized solidarity in the fight against cancer. Through engaging educational content, BMC empowered individuals with knowledge about prevention and treatment options, reinforcing its commitment to comprehensive cancer care.
Together, these initiatives not only strengthened community conversations around the disease but also empowered individuals to prioritize their health. By fostering an environment of knowledge and support, BMC is making significant strides in the fight against breast cancer, encouraging everyone to play an active role in their own health journeys.
About BALCO Medical Centre:
BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), a 170-bed state-of-the-art tertiary care Oncology facility in Naya Raipur, is the first flagship initiative of Vedanta Medical Research Foundation (VMRF). VMRF, a non-profit organization, is an initiative of Vedanta Resources and Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd. (BALCO) to contribute towards prevention of cancer and its related illnesses. Currently, it is fast emerging as a national leader in India’s oncology space including medical, surgical, radiation, haematological, BMT and palliative care. Though the hospital is in Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh, it is a rapidly becoming a centre of choice for cancer treatment for people from Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and even from some parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. For more information, visit www.balcomedicalcentre.com
About Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programmes with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com
About Vedanta Aluminium Business:
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.37 million tonnes in FY24. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 1st in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, a reflection of its leading sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
For more information, please log on to www.vedantaaluminium.com
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