Koppa Gets Its Own Cancer Information Centre: M.I.O. and Sanjeevini Take Early Detection to Rural Karnataka

Decentralising Cancer Care, One Town at a Time

Continuing its mission to take expert oncology guidance beyond hospital walls, Mangalore Institute of Oncology (M.I.O) and Sanjeevini Cancer Seva Trust (R.) have officially inaugurated a Cancer Information Centre in Koppa. The launch marks a vital step in bringing high-quality cancer awareness directly to the doorsteps of rural Karnataka, where the gap between knowledge and access remains widest.

A Milestone Inauguration in Koppa

The centre was inaugurated with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by a panel of distinguished guests:

• Sri Sudhakar S. Shetty, Founder President, Amma Foundation, Koppa and JDS State Vice President
• Dr. Ganavi, MDS, Senior Dental Health Officer, Koppa
• Sri A. N. Vijendra Rao, Chief Coordinator, Cancer Movement Committee, Shivamogga

From Hospital Care to Community Prevention: The Household Survey

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Household Cancer Survey forms, one of the most ground-level tools in M.I.O.'s outreach strategy. This proactive initiative aims to map the health landscape of Koppa by identifying high-risk individuals and encouraging them to seek early medical consultation. By documenting health trends at the grassroot level, M.I.O. is making a deliberate shift from hospital-based care to community-based prevention reaching people before they become patients.

Dr. Ganavi: Closing the Knowledge Gap

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ganavi put her finger on the real challenge facing communities like Koppa. "Many people lack the basic knowledge of early warning signs. This centre will be a beacon of hope, providing the community with the right information to get tested early and fight the disease with confidence." She noted that while modern medicine makes cancer highly treatable, it is the knowledge gap that continues to cost lives and that is precisely what this centre is built to close.

What the Koppa Cancer Information Centre Will Offer

The centre will serve as an accessible, permanent resource for residents of Koppa and surrounding areas, providing:

• Guidance on recognising early cancer symptoms
• Support in understanding and navigating treatment pathways
• Education on preventive lifestyle choices and recommended screening timelines

For many in Koppa, this will be the first place they can walk in, ask questions without fear, and leave with clarity rather than confusion.

M.I.O.'s Growing Network Across Karnataka

The Koppa Cancer Information Centre joins a growing network of community touchpoints that M.I.O. and Sanjeevini Cancer Seva Trust are establishing across coastal and inland Karnataka, from Puttur to Shivamogga to Thirthahalli. The goal is consistent: no one should face cancer alone because they did not know where to begin.

📞 Cancer Helpline: 8050636777

📍 Mangalore | Udupi | Thirthahalli

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