Mobile Clinics Bring Cancer Screenings to Communities

Since 2013, Pennalam, operating under the Sri Dhanvantri Trust, has deployed mobile screening buses across Chennai to offer breast and cervical cancer screenings. This community-oriented model, initiated in 2009 after founder Radhika Santhanakrishnan's personal cancer diagnosis, addresses the barriers of fear and lack of information hindering women's health. The buses are equipped for mammograms (for women 40+) and Pap smears (for women 22+), emphasizing screening as wellness. Camps are organized with local coordination, involving awareness sessions, on-site screening, and report delivery.

Similarly, the Thenmozhi Memorial Trust has conducted mobile breast cancer screening camps since 2015, focusing on rural and peri-urban regions. While not owning a dedicated unit, they hire buses for mammograms primarily for women over 40. These screenings are entirely funded by the Trust and are free for participants. A detailed questionnaire assesses risk, and efforts are made to overcome cultural hesitation through local engagement and female volunteers. Approximately 2,000 women have been screened by this Trust, with a focus on meaningful intervention.