Pune: A health drive by the Armed Forces Medical College has revealed at least 119 veterans who are at risk of developing oral cancer if they are not given adequate treatment on time.
The high-risk cases were uncovered by a team of 13 AFMC doctors who toured six districts in as many days.
The group, traveling on motorcycles, covered a whopping 1,400 kilometres, across Ahmednagar, Latur, Solapur, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. All members are from the AFMC's department of dental and oral health sciences and are part of an oral health awareness campaign. They returned to the city on Saturday night. Officials from the Maharashtra Sainik Welfare Department provided necessary assistance.
Brigadier SK Roychowdhury, head of the department, told TOI that the drive helped them discover serious health problems plaguing the state's villages. "It was a unique experience because we were able to reach veterans living in remote villages. We soon discovered that some of these individuals had developed a habit of chewing tobacco. The daily use of tobacco products posed certain oral health risks." The team screened a total of 1,558 veterans. Relatives too were made part of the health drive. "We have referred certain cases to the local ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme centres. The 119 high-risk cases will receive care at the AFMC. They require immediate attention," Roychowdhury added. The team also received support from AFMC Commandant Air Marshal CK Ranjan and deputy commandant Major General Madhuri Kanitkar.
Army sources said most ECHS centres lacked dental specialists.
"Most veterans stay in villages. In this case, ECHS officials, along with the zilla sainik welfare officer, must organise health camps and provide timely medical services to veterans and their relatives," a sainik welfare department official said.
The high-risk cases were uncovered by a team of 13 AFMC doctors who toured six districts in as many days.
The group, traveling on motorcycles, covered a whopping 1,400 kilometres, across Ahmednagar, Latur, Solapur, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. All members are from the AFMC's department of dental and oral health sciences and are part of an oral health awareness campaign. They returned to the city on Saturday night. Officials from the Maharashtra Sainik Welfare Department provided necessary assistance.
Brigadier SK Roychowdhury, head of the department, told TOI that the drive helped them discover serious health problems plaguing the state's villages. "It was a unique experience because we were able to reach veterans living in remote villages. We soon discovered that some of these individuals had developed a habit of chewing tobacco. The daily use of tobacco products posed certain oral health risks." The team screened a total of 1,558 veterans. Relatives too were made part of the health drive. "We have referred certain cases to the local ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme centres. The 119 high-risk cases will receive care at the AFMC. They require immediate attention," Roychowdhury added. The team also received support from AFMC Commandant Air Marshal CK Ranjan and deputy commandant Major General Madhuri Kanitkar.
Army sources said most ECHS centres lacked dental specialists.
"Most veterans stay in villages. In this case, ECHS officials, along with the zilla sainik welfare officer, must organise health camps and provide timely medical services to veterans and their relatives," a sainik welfare department official said.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
