Tripura has launched a month-long statewide breast cancer awareness campaign to promote breast health, early detection, screening and timely treatment. The campaign will run throughout October and include workshops, healthcare consultations, seminars, media outreach and community-level awareness activities.Key HighlightsTripura launched its statewide Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign on October 1.The campaign will focus on early detection, prevention and continuity of care.Workshops will be conducted with AIIMS and Jhpiego.ASHAs, CHOs and ANMs will participate in community awareness activities.Breast cancer accounted for 14.4% of female cancer cases in Tripura, according to ICMR registry data from 2012–2016.Tripura Launches Breast Cancer Awareness CampaignTripura Health Secretary Kiran Gitte launched the statewide Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign at the State Guest House in Agartala. Senior officials from the Health Department, National Health Mission and district health administration attended the programme.The campaign aims to increase awareness about breast cancer, encourage early detection and strengthen prevention and treatment services across the state.Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed every October globally, with a focus on breast health, risk factors, early identification and continuity of care.Workshops and Community Activities PlannedThe month-long breast cancer awareness campaign will include workshops conducted in collaboration with AIIMS and Jhpiego. Consultations involving healthcare providers and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are also planned.Seminars will be organised in medical and paramedical institutions, while television, digital media and social media platforms will be used to spread awareness.At the community level, Panchayati Raj Institution representatives will participate in awareness activities. Community Health Officers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives will also conduct programmes during Village Health and Nutrition Days.Jhpiego is providing technical assistance to the initiative, including support aimed at strengthening breast cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services.Breast Cancer Burden in India and TripuraAccording to figures cited by Tripura health authorities from GLOBOCAN 2022, around 23 lakh women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide in 2022, while approximately 6.7 lakh died from the disease.In India, an estimated 2,37,231 new breast cancer cases and 96,100 deaths were recorded in 2024. Breast cancer accounted for around 30.4% of all cancers among Indian women, according to the figures cited in the campaign material.Tripura also faces a significant breast cancer burden. Data from the ICMR Tripura Population-Based Cancer Registry for 2012–2016 showed that breast cancer represented 14.4% of all female cancer cases recorded in the state.Tripura's Existing Cancer Screening EffortsThe new awareness campaign will complement existing cancer screening initiatives in Tripura.Chief Minister Manik Saha launched the Mukhyamantri Niramay Arogya Abhiyan in December 2025. Under the programme, dedicated screening drives are conducted twice a year through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Primary Health Care facilities across the state.The screening programme covers cancer along with other non-communicable diseases and aims to improve early identification and access to further diagnosis and treatment.Why Breast Cancer Awareness MattersHealth officials have stressed that greater awareness can encourage people to recognise possible warning signs and seek medical advice at an early stage. The October campaign is designed to take breast cancer information beyond hospitals and healthcare facilities and into communities.With workshops, medical seminars, media campaigns and grassroots outreach planned throughout the month, Tripura's Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign will focus on improving public awareness and encouraging timely access to healthcare services.
