Breast cancer has become the most common type of cancer in India, affecting mostly women. There are four stages in breast cancer disease – stages 1,2,3 and 4. If it is detected early in stage 1 or 2, breast cancer can be treated easily. But if it is detected late in stage 3 or 4, treatment is both expensive and ineffective. The best way to detect breast cancer is through a digital mammogram. However, women in India do not tend to go for this test on their own. Also, women in rural areas do not have this facility near them, and the test is expensive as well. As a result, the disease is not detected till it is too late.

Rotary Mettupalayam is attempting to change this situation by deploying a bus with advanced digital mammography equipment, and qualified personnel, to travel to various localities in a 100 km radius, and conduct diagnostic tests for a period of 5 years. Patients that test positive for breast cancer will be treated by our Medical Partner (a reputed multi-specialty hospital in Coimbatore). Eligible women will be provided surgery free of cost by them. We are calling this Project HEAL (High Awareness, Early Detection, Affordable Treatment and Low Mortality).

For the past 58 years, Rotary Mettupalayam has been providing great social service for the town of Mettupalayam (Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu) and surrounding areas. Some of our long running programs include the Metro Matriculation Higher Secondary School with more than 2,000 students currently, a gas crematorium, an autism centre, a prosthetic hand fitment centre and a clocktower in the Mettupalayam bus stand.

This Project is expected to cost more than 3 crore rupees (US$ 439,000) over the 5-year period, with Rs. 1.85 crores (US$ 268,000) required to launch (Year 0). We are already funded for 31% of the Year 0 budget. We are looking to raise at least Rs. 50 lakhs through this platform.

Thanks for your support ! Any queries may be sent to  the email address mmu-project@rotarymettupalayam.org