A New Step Towards Healthier Communities: Swasthyarekha in Niali

Preventive healthcare becomes more meaningful when essential screening services reach people within their own communities. On 11 September 2026, Swasthyarekha held its 18^th community-based Cancer & NCD Screening Camp in Niali, bringing preventive health assessment, oral screening, and breast screening closer to local communities.

The camp was conducted in association with Yuva Vikash Foundation, Balasore, and Jeban Jyoti Sishu Vikash Sangathan, reflecting the importance of collaboration in expanding access to community-level healthcare.

A Community-Focused Approach to Early Detection

The Niali camp was designed to provide participants with a comprehensive first-level health assessment while raising awareness of the importance of regular screening.

A total of 70 participants attended the camp, and all 70 underwent Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) assessment. By bringing these services into a community setting, the initiative provided participants with an opportunity to understand their health status and recognise the importance of timely preventive care.

Instead of waiting for symptoms to appear, community screening promotes integrating regular health assessments into people’s healthcare routines.

Oral Screening: Combining Clinical Observation with Technology

Oral health screening formed an important part of the camp. All 70 participants underwent Oral Visual Examination (OVA) by trained screening personnel.

To complement the clinical examination, 42 participants also received screening using the Oral Scan device. This technology-assisted approach adds an extra layer of assessment and helps the screening team document observations digitally.

Importantly, no suspected oral abnormalities were identified among the 42 participants screened using Oral Scan during this camp.

The combination of visual examination and technology-assisted screening demonstrates how community programs can integrate multiple approaches while keeping the screening process accessible and participant-friendly.

Breast Screening: Clinical Assessment Supported by BR Scan

Breast health screening was also included as part of the camp, with 37 women undergoing Clinical Breast Examination (CBE).

Of these, 22 participants also underwent BR Scan, providing a technology-assisted assessment alongside the clinical examination.

No suspicious findings were identified through BR Scan among the 22 participants screened.

Beyond the screening itself, such encounters provide an opportunity to reinforce awareness about breast health, regular self-observation, and the importance of seeking medical advice when unusual changes are noticed.

Screening Beyond the Numbers

The significance of the Niali camp extends beyond the total number of participants. Every screening interaction creates an opportunity to encourage people to take a more proactive approach to their health.

The camp brought together:

• 70 participants for community health screening
• 70 NCD assessments
• 70 Oral Visual Examinations
• 42 Oral Scan screenings
• 37 Clinical Breast Examinations
• 22 BR Scan assessments
• 0 suspected oral abnormalities through Oral Scan
• 0 suspected breast abnormalities through BR Scan

These numbers reflect a coordinated approach that made multiple preventive screening services available within a single community setting.

Technology with a Human-Centred Purpose

Technology in community healthcare is most valuable when it supports, rather than replaces, the role of trained healthcare professionals.

At Niali, clinical examination remained an important part of the screening process, while Oral Scan and BR Scan provided additional technology-assisted assessments. This combination can help make screening more structured, accessible, and easier to document.

For participants, the experience was not simply about using medical devices. It was about receiving health attention in a familiar community environment and gaining greater awareness of the importance of early screening.

Building Health Awareness Through Community Partnerships

The success of a community screening initiative depends on more than healthcare technology. Local partnerships play an equally important role in bringing people together and in creating an environment where preventive healthcare can reach those who may not routinely visit a healthcare facility.

Swasthyarekha extends its appreciation to Yuva Vikash Foundation, Balasore, and Jeban Jyoti Sishu Vikash Sangathan for their support and collaboration in conducting the Niali screening camp.

Such partnerships demonstrate how healthcare organisations, community groups, and social organisations can work together to strengthen preventive healthcare at the grassroots level.

Continuing the Journey Towards Early Detection

The Niali camp represents another step in Swasthyarekha's ongoing effort to make cancer and NCD screening more accessible to communities.

With 70 participants screened and multiple screening modalities offered at the camp, the initiative provided an integrated platform for health assessment, awareness, and early identification.

Community screening is not only about detecting abnormalities. It also encourages people to pay attention to their health before problems become harder to address.

Swasthyarekha continues to build on this approach, bringing preventive healthcare closer to communities and making early screening a more accessible part of everyday health awareness.

Early Screening. Informed Communities. A Healthier Tomorrow.