STEPS WITH SWEAT, CARE WE WON’T FORGET
In a remote rural village, with rough roads, sand and fields around with narrow lanes, health care workers and resident doctors walked into the hot sun, step by step door to door! Yes, tired of counselling for cancer screening.
All started writing and the women’s attitude was not good, no one is interested in cancer screening in the PHCs. With hesitant smile, folded hands women replied
“No, I am fine, “I am not having any symptoms.”
“My husband won’t allow it.”
“Will it hurt?”
NOT JUST A TEST! IT IS PROMISE FOR OUR LIFE BEST
As the sun rose higher our hopes got lower! We packed and started walking towards Primary Health Centre in way full of questions and worrying about their health.
Suddenly, one ASHA worker, wiping the sweat off her forehead, said softly but firmly,
“lvvala vallu rakapovachu doctor garu… kani repu artham ayyaka vaallane vastaaru.” (“They may not come today, doctor… but tomorrow, when they understand, they will come.”).
That sentence gave hope as rainbow after the rain even in that hot sun, simple but filled with truth. Change takes time. Trust is built, not imposed.
CHAMPION’S CALL, FEARS WILL FALL!
Two days later, something new happened.
As the morning sun touched the field and every corner of the village, women began arriving at the Primary Health Centre not one or two, fifteen women came, their eyes still carried huge amount of hesitation, but this time, there was also curiosity and courage. We once walked these lanes with disappointment, now stood with a heart full of joy.
In one corner of the crowd, the real champion standing at the back, a local volunteer who, already underwent screening after attending the awareness session, had gone door to door, explaining, convincing, and assuring the women with hope and trust. Her words reached where flyers and posters had failed.
That day, as Pap smear samples were collected under the shade of the PHC,
Among the women, one sat nervously, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. Her eyes darted around, unsure.
When her turn came, she hesitated.
“Madam… Chala noppi untundemo ani bayam vesthundi” (“Madam… I was scared it might be painful.
We smiled gently and reassured her, don’t worry, “It will be easy and quick procedure, there will be no pain.”
After the procedure, the woman stepped out with a quiet laugh of relief.
“Noppi ledhu madam… ide kosame bayapadanu!” (“There was no pain at all, madam… and I was afraid for this?”)
Her words spread like a gentle breeze through the group, easing the fears of others, there was a quiet sense of victory. But the story didn’t end there.
FROM FOOTSTEPS TO FLIGHT, VILLAGE HEALTH TAKES HEIGHT!
In the past, these samples would have waited for transport, days perhaps, before reaching a diagnostic lab. But today, a small drone awaited standby, ready to lift off with precision and purpose. The slides were fixed, sealed and secure, and were placed in a special slide boxes. The drone rose into the sky, bypassing the broken roads and endless fields, carrying hope, effort, and life-saving potential on its wings.
Every Friday became ‘Screening Day’.
What once began with silence and hesitation slowly turned into footsteps and smiles.
In the beginning, not a single woman came forward.
But over the weeks, something beautiful happened
Every Friday, women from various villages started arriving at the PHC, walking in groups, some holding hands, some carrying children, all carrying hope.
They smiled and said with quiet pride:
“We are happy that Pap smear is available at our PHC, free of cost… and that we are being screened for cancer and infections”
The doctor returned.
The women returned.
The drone flew week after week.
Simple steps to intervention in this situation were
- Primary Health Centres became pillars of trust
- Community participation lit the first flame
- Women volunteers became ambassadors of change
- Technology like drones ensured no delay, no denial.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Dr. Rajeev Aravindakshan
Head of the Department
Department of CFM
AIIMS Mangalagiri
Dr. Arundathi.S
Additional Professor
Department of Pathology
AIIMS Mangalagiri
Special thanks to field workers, ASHAs, ANMs of Nutakki village (Rural field practice area of AIIMS Mangalagiri, CFM Department)
Centre in charge
Dr. Arti Gupta
Associate Professor
Department of CFM
AIIMS Mangalagiri
