PANJIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday informed that one lakh women in Goa will be screened for breast cancer starting from October. 

“One lakh women in Goa will be screened for breast cancer starting by October under the pilot project. I am doing this under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding and not under any government funding. Two companies will do the funding. We will also sign a MoU with life sciences,” said Rane speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a government function.

He informed, “We will train the aganwadi workers for this. Already NCM has already sanctioned Rs 1,000 as incentive to aganwadi workers and my aim is it to make it Rs 2,000.” 

The incidence of breast cancer in Goa is rising, largely on account of the urban lifestyle associated with high affluence and late marriages. Of the 1000-1200 cases of cancer reported across the State annually, breast cancer cases account for 200.

The health minister further said that the State government is starting a diabetic care programme, aimed at providing free insulin to the people. The programme will also map the diabetic population by way of a registry that will maintain patient details. 

“The total diabetic care programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The State government provides free medicine, insulin and dialysis facility for diabetes patients,” he added.