Mysuru:  National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of University of Mysore, Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and Yenepoya University had organised a State-level training programme on ‘Enhancing Knowledge and Skills of NSS Programme Officers to educate community on prevention and control of common cancers’ this morning at Vigyan Bhavan in Manasagangothri here.

About 50 NSS Programme Officers of various colleges in the State participated in the programme who were briefed by specialist doctors on various types of cancer. Inaugurating the programme UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar contended that low and middle income continue to struggle with poverty and endemic diseases and nutritional deficiencies. With urbanisation, industrialisation and changing lifestyle, these countries now face challenges of non-communicable diseases including cancer. With diverse ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, food habits and economic conditions, the incidence and prevalence of cancer too are diverse in different geological, he opined.

The VC observed that due to a lack of population-based screening programmes on preventive health strategies, most patients present with advanced condition of the disease thus leading to increased mortality and reduced survival.  He said that in India under the National Cancer Control Programme for three common cancers — cervical, breast and oral — a population-based screening is envisaged. 

Delivering the keynote address UoM NSS Programme Co-ordinator Dr. B. Chandrashekar said that the training would enable the NSS Programme Officers to educate the NSS students on cancer treatment who in turn can create awareness in rural areas.

Yenepoya University NSS Co-ordinator Dr. Ashwini Shetty and Oncologist Dr. H.T. Amar Rao were the guests of honour.