Ncell Foundation organises free Cervical Cancer Screening in Birtamod, Jhapa

KATHMANDU: Ncell Foundation, in line with Ncell’s ongoing commitment to leaving a positive social impact at the provincial level, successfully organised a free Cervical Cancer Screening and Awareness Session in Birtamod Municipality, Ward-5, Jhapa, last week.

More than 120 women from the local community participated in the event, with over 90 taking advantage of the free Pap Smear test. This initiative, organised in collaboration with the Nepal Cancer Foundation and Purbanchal Hospital, marked a significant milestone as the first of its kind initiative of Ncell Foundation, aimed at raising awareness of the growing concern of cervical cancer among women.

Cervical cancer remains a major health concern in Nepal, with alarming statistics from 2022 showing that 2,169 women were diagnosed with the disease, resulting in 1,313 tragic deaths.

The event encouraged participants to undertake regular screenings and tests for early detection and prevention, highlighting the importance of timely intervention and preventive measures. Such screening camps, especially in remote regions of Nepal, promote preventive healthcare services by providing access to free medical screenings and enabling the early detection of potential health issues.

Shobha Thakur of Birtamod Municipality, Ward No. 5, said, “I came here with my friends after knowing about the Cervical Cancer Screening camp. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer in the third stage and passed away because she couldn’t talk openly about her health. If you have your health, you have your son, daughter, and the whole world with you.”

Similarly, Tika Gautam Koirala, who came to the camp from Belbari-5, Morang, said, “This is a terrible disease that takes life. If you treat it in time, you can survive, so I came here to the camp when I got the chance. If you are aware, you can get rid of this disease, so this screening test is very important.”

This event is the first in a series of cervical cancer screenings launched by Ncell Foundation with a goal of screening over 6,000 women across Koshi Province.

Bishakha Lakshmi Khadka, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR at Ncell, said, ” Our intent is to reach those who do not have the access. Most of these deaths occurred in low- and lower-middle income women due to inadequate access to cervical cancer prevention, screening and treatment. Statistics show that cervical cancer is among the most common and a major cause of death among Nepali women. Over 80 percent of patients are diagnosed with cervical cancer at a late stage. Through our Ncell Foundation, we are committed to extend our efforts to other provinces following the success of this pilot project in Koshi Province.”

Ncell Foundation has been implementing various social development initiatives across all seven provinces as part of its broader CSR and sustainability efforts. In celebration of Ncell’s 19th anniversary, the Foundation has planned a series of social activities targeting grassroots communities. As responsible corporate citizen, Ncell has contributed more than Rs. 2 billion towards social projects in education, environment, and health, among others.