Digital mammogram unit at GH

Kochi: Health minister K.K Shailaja has inaugurated a free mobile digital mammogram unit, the first of its kind in the country, at Ernakulam government general hospital on Monday.

“The unit will be of great help to the poor in early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer,” she said. The facility has been set up at a cost of '2 crore.

“Kerala is the first state in the country which announced a cancer care policy.

The state government has also proposed a cancer care grid. Since cancer has become a major lifestyle disease with more than 50, 000 new cases being reported, early diagnosis and treatment are very crucial.

Most modern treatment facilities will be set up at Malabar Cancer Centre while projects worth Rs 375 crore are being implemented at Cochin Cancer Centre. The Centre will be realised in two years,” she added.

The government is planning to make all medical colleges as mini-RCCs (regional cancer centres) to ensure better treatment for cancer.

Former Rotary Club governor Vinod Krishna-nkutty handed over the key of mobile mammogram unit to Cancure Foundation.

 Those who are diagnosed with bre-ast cancer at the mobile unit will be given treatment at Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences. The unit has been set up with the support of other agencies like K Chittil-appally Foundation, Am-ritha hospital, Rotary in-ternational, Cancure, UAE Exchange, BPCL and KRL Refinery.

During the function, the health minister complimented the staff and doctors of General Hospital for their performance during the flood. General hospital has functioned as the district control room of health department.