The Hinduja Foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr. Mane Medical Foundation & Research Centre, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. The partnership marks the launch of a comprehensive cancer screening and awareness programme, offered entirely free of cost, in Shirdi and other districts of Maharashtra.
Along with promoting early detection & treatment, this initiative aims to educated, empower, and building a culture of preventive care. This initiative aims to screen 10,000 ultra-poor women for cervical and breast cancer by December 2025. The first screening camp was held on June 8 at Rahuri, 60 kms from Shirdi, where nearly 350 women were screened.
Focused on early detection and timely intervention, the programme addresses a critical gap in access to preventive healthcare for marginalised groups who often go undiagnosed due to financial and geographical barriers.
Dr. Mane Medical Foundation will lead on-ground implementation, supported by community outreach efforts. All women will undergo Pap Smear and Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), and where needed, additional health checks including haemoglobin, blood sugar, and cholesterol tests.
Women with positive findings will receive free-of-cost treatment at Dr. Mane’s Charitable Cancer Hospital in Rahuri, Shirdi. The program also includes training for community health workers to build long-term healthcare capacity in local areas.
Supported by Reliance Life Insurance, the initiative is currently being implemented in Shirdi and is planned to expand to other cancer hotbeds such as Osmanabad and Ahilyanagar districts in the near future.
