Starting from Monggar last month, a nationwide mass screening for gastric cancer is underway. It is a part of the health flagship programme which will be completed within three years. More than Nu 1bn is allocated for this flagship programme.
According to health specialist, high salt intake, smoking, low dietary fibre, hereditary are some of the causes of gastric cancer or stomach cancer. Helicobacter pylori bacteria is the major cause of gastric cancer which is formed from food and the environment. Gastric cancer is the leading cancer in Bhutan which causes the highest mortality. For every hundred thousand population, 8.3% male and 5.2% female died from gastric cancer over the last five years according to the Health Ministry.
“If you have bacteria in you, we can do it by invasive method or we can also do without having to go invasive method like breath test. After doing that if you are found to have H.Pylori, irrespective of signs and symptoms you need to treat with antibiotics. You also need to do a follow-up because it is one bacteria that is really difficult to eradicate. You need to change your lifestyle. Maintain your weight, exercise, cut down on your alcohol and stop smoking. Rather than taking processed food, switch on to your vegetables. Drink plenty of water. These are the major things which we can do,” said Dr Jamtsho P, a Surgeon at the Eastern Regional Referral Hospital in Monggar.
Till now, Monggar has screened more than a hundred people. The doctors screen the patients with an endoscopy. The target population for mass screening is above 18 to 75 years of age.
“The government spends a lot of money on referring patients outside the country, and these are mostly cancer patients. Most of the time these are in very advanced stages where the prognosis is quite poor. So there are very low rates of recovery. If we detect early or if we prevent cancer there should be a lot of savings in terms of resources and for the individuals too. Also, early detection or prevention of cancer would make their lives much better,” said Tandin Dorji, the Project Director of the Health Flagship Programme under the health ministry.
The next screening campaign will be held in Wangdue, followed by Paro, Punakha, and Gasa. These places are found to have a high prevalence of gastric cancer. Along with gastric cancer, screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer is also done at the same time.
Kelzang Choden/ Sonam Tshering
