Cervical Cancer 

Critique

On my journey through India, I was able to interview Dr. Vijaya Srinivas, a senior research physician at the Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII). This Institute provides women access and care to medical reproductive services and cancer screening. They have multiple initiatives such as the Prerana Women’s Health Initiative and mobile medical clinic. PHRII strives to increase awareness of health issues in the community through workshops, issue-free cervical cancer screenings, providing low-cost diagnostics, and ultimately improving the support of maternal and child health.

At the JSS medical college, Dr.Vijaya Srinivas held a lecture where she discussed different screening methods and prevention techniques. She provided a basis for the role of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and how they affect the growth of cells. Since cancer is the uncontrollable growth of cells. She expressed how cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in India. Also, how many individuals in the community lack awareness and education on reproductive health.

 
Since I was so enamored by her lecture and the role she plays in the community. I was able to briefly interview her at PHRII. During this interview, I asked a few questions. These questions included, “What are the health implications/ risks/ concerns of not getting screened for cervical cancer? What are the attitudes of women, their families, and the government on cancer? And how do you make your services accessible to women in the community?
 
Overall conducting this interview provided me with great insight into the health status in India when it comes to cervical cancer. It made me go and do additional research and make comparisons to the way the United States handled screenings and prevention. As a person who wants to do research on cancer, I am left with different strategies and methods that I would like to implement in my own community.