In a major push to improve cancer awareness and diagnosis in rural Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday unveiled a fleet of 12 mobile cancer screening vans in Dhuri. These units are set to travel across the state, offering free diagnostic services and education to residents in remote villages.
The project, launched in partnership with the World Cancer Care Organisation, aims to combat the rising cancer burden by making early detection accessible to all. Each mobile unit is equipped to conduct a range of screenings, including mammograms for breast cancer, Pap smears, PSA tests for prostate cancer, oral exams for mouth and throat cancers, bone density checks, and various blood tests.
CM Mann emphasized that catching the disease early is key to survival. “There’s a fear and stigma around getting tested, but awareness and early diagnosis can be life-saving,” he said, underlining the program’s mission to break such barriers.
Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, chair of the World Cancer Care Organisation, said the initiative also honors Punjab’s freedom fighters. The campaign is targeting widespread awareness by the next martyrdom day of Shaheed Udham Singh, building on the 350 free cancer camps already conducted in memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib.
Mann also announced that the first round of 20 screening camps would begin in the villages of Sangrur, marking the starting point of this state-wide outreach.
