The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences organized an Awareness Campaign on Cervical Cancer under its (Tribal Health Research Innovation and Vocational Empowerment) THRIVE Centre on 29th January 2025. This initiative was taken as a part of the nation-wide observation of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. The female students, scholars, teaching and non-teaching staff of KISS participated in the campaign. The occasion was graced by Dr. Susanta Swain, Additional Director, NCD-cum-State Nodal Officer, Cancer Care, Govt. of Odisha, Prof. Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nayak, Head (I/c) Gynaecologic Oncology, AHPGIC, Cuttack, Dr. Asutosh Padhi, SPM Jhpiego, Odisha State Office and Mr. Rudra Prasad Pradhan, State Program Manager, Jhpiego.
Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU in his Welcome Address presented the anthropological perspectives pertaining to cervical cancer and expressed dire need for sensitizing people. He talked about inclusive health and gave a brief picture of the status of cervical cancer in tribal pockets. Speaking in turn, Mr. Sabyasachi Rout, Senior Project Manager, KISS presented an overview of the KISS – Jhpiego Partnership (THRIVE Initiative) wherein he spoke about the genesis of the THRIVE Centre and how KISS has been working on Life Skills Education (LSE) and Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) since its inception. He stressed on the fact that KISS as an organization focusses on the institutionalization and sustainability of the projects and initiatives through innovative and creative ways.
While delivering the Keynote Address, Prof. Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nayak, Head (I/c) Gynaecologic Oncology, AHPGIC, Cuttack underscored the causes of cervical cancer and its precautionary measures. She emphasized on the need for fighting the fear and to be vocal about it. Dr. Nayak also underlined the need for conducting screening test to avoid any kind of delay in detection. Speaking earlier, Dr. Susanta Swain, Additional Director, NCD-cum-State Nodal Officer, Cancer Care, Govt. of Odisha shed light on the Cancer Care Program and highlighted the government’s perspectives and Dr. Asutosh Padhi, SPM, Jhpiego, State Office set the context of the awareness campaign and highlighted on some facts, figures and statistical data pertaining to cervical cancer. All the esteemed resource persons stressed on the need of conducting screening as an important precautionary measure and the role of mentor-mentee system and peer educators in spreading awareness and sensitizing all the stakeholders.
Dr. Disha Bhatt, Deputy director, IQAC, KISS-DU proposed the formal Vote of Thanks to the resource persons, participants and all those who contributed in making the event a success.
