Puttur Gets a Dedicated Cancer Information Centre: M.I.O. and Sanjeevini Bring Early Detection Closer to Home

A New Resource for Puttur's Community

Strengthening its commitment to community cancer awareness and early detection, Mangalore Institute of Oncology (M.I.O), in collaboration with Sanjeevini Cancer Seva Trust (R.), inaugurated a new Cancer Information Centre in Puttur. The centre was formally opened by Ashok Kumar Rai, MLA of Puttur constituency, who cut the ribbon, marking an important step in expanding cancer awareness services across the region.

An Evening of Community Solidarity

The inauguration ceremony brought together an impressive gathering of healthcare professionals, civic leaders, and local residents, reflecting how deeply the people of Puttur value accessible health education. Eminent guests in attendance included:

• Umesh Naik, President, Kannada Sahitya Parishad
• Dr. Suresh Putturai
• Dr. J. C. Adiga
• Dr. Yeduraj, Medical Officer, Government Hospital, Puttur
• Hemanath Shetty Kavu, Congress leader and President, Buntara Sangha, Puttur

Dr. D. Suresh Rao: Catching Cancer Before It Catches You

Presiding over the programme, Dr. D. Suresh Rao, Director, Mangalore Institute of Oncology and Managing Trustee of Sanjeevini Cancer Seva Trust (R.), spoke directly to the core problem driving M.I.O.'s outreach mission, too many patients are still arriving at the hospital at Stage 3 or Stage 4, when treatment is far more difficult. He emphasised that early awareness, timely screening, and prompt medical consultation can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. The Cancer Information Centre in Puttur is designed to be the first point of contact that changes that trajectory.

MLA Ashok Kumar Rai: Replacing Fear with Facts

Addressing the gathering, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai appreciated the work of M.I.O. and the Trust, noting that he had personally heard positive feedback from Puttur residents about their community programmes. He underlined the urgent need for sustained public awareness initiatives to combat the misconceptions and fears that still surround cancer in many communities.

What the Cancer Information Centre Will Do

The newly inaugurated centre will serve as a permanent, accessible resource for the people of Puttur and surrounding areas, offering:

• Guidance on early warning signs of cancer
• Information on preventive measures and lifestyle risk factors
• Clear pathways to screening, diagnosis, and treatment at M.I.O.

For many families in Puttur, this centre will be the first place they turn when they have a question they are afraid to ask a doctor, and that matters.

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

The Puttur Cancer Information Centre is part of a broader network that M.I.O. and Sanjeevini Cancer Seva Trust (R.) are building across coastal and inland Karnataka, ensuring that advanced oncology knowledge is not confined to Mangalore but travels to every taluk, every town, and every household that needs it.

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