The Health Ministry is once again carrying out screenings for gastric cancer in Thimphu and this time it’s only in the offices. But people need not be worried. Officials say it is being done because of low coverage in the district during the past two screenings and not due to an increase in cases. The gastric cancer screening for offices in Thimphu started yesterday (20th December).
More than 300,000 people have been screened for gastric cancer since the nationwide mass screenings started in May, last year. Two rounds of screenings were held in Thimphu, while it is still ongoing in a few other districts.
Health Officials say coverage in Thimphu was low and suspect it to be due to office-goers not coming for the screenings.
“It is not that there is a rising infection of H. pylori in Bhutan. The infection is already there in the population. It is just that we have stepped up our detection policy like endoscopy population screening programme, by stool examination and by other methods,” said Dr Prabhat Pradhan, an Oncosurgeon at the JDWNRH.
Although the third phase of the gastric cancer screening programme is for institutions under the Thimphu Thromde, people living nearby can also come for the services.
“I came to drop my sample as the screening is being done near my workplace. It will help me get treatment sooner in case I test positive,” said Ugyen Choden, who works as an instructor at the College of Zorig Chusum.
“When the Health Ministry gives such opportunities, as we know prevention is better than cure, we never know if we will have the infection, so it better to get tested,” said Tashi Wangchuk, a civil servant.
“Such an initiative is helpful because we want to get tested but have to go all the way to the hospital and be in a queue. So, I always manage to participate in such programmes initiated by the health ministry,” said Sangay Pemo.
According to health specialists, high salt intake, smoking, low dietary fibre, and hereditary factors are some of the causes of gastric cancer or stomach cancer.
“H. pylori infection prevention is taking well-cooked food, then going and screening for H. pylori and taking medicine and then other things are, there is some certain food that is protective like fruits and vegetables,” said Dr Prabhat. “Physical activities, yoga, and all those things will help us to build up a good immune system in our body. Avoid alcohol, Doma, and unhealthy food that needs to be stopped.”
While a similar screening is already ongoing for offices under the Gelephu Thromde, a health official said screenings also be conducted in other large Thromdes such as Paro and Phuentshogling.
Almost 100,000 people have been found to have H Pylori so far through the mass screenings.
The gastric cancer screenings are a part of the Health Flagship Programme.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
