Grace Cancer Foundation to Screen 1,500 Police Personnel for Cancer under Nizamabad Commissionerate
Hyderabad: A unique initiative titled Bridging Borders—an internship program for Indian-origin medical students from the United States—was formally launched at Bridge Gap Hospitals (formerly Indur Cancer Hospital), Madhav Nagar, Nizamabad. The internship aims to connect global youth with grassroots healthcare systems in India.
The program was launched jointly by Hyderabad-based Grace Cancer Foundation and Bridge Gap Hospitals, the only rural community cancer hospital serving five districts in Northern Telangana, as disclosed this in a press note issued in Hyderabad today.
The initiative was formally launched by Sri Potharaju Sai Chaitanya, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Nizamabad in the presence of Mr. Shreeram Iyer, Author and Government Policy Advisor, and Mr. Varma Jampana, Director & Principal Architect, United Health Group, USA.
The Commissioner felicitated 12 Indian-origin medical interns from the US, namely Sanjay Cherukuri, Prisha Susanne Sunkavalli, Deena Pasumarthi, Abhiram Attili, Ananya Vakkalanka, Shamitha Jampana, Rachel Gujjarlapudi, Anjana Chepur, Maya Srinivasan, Leela Srinivasan, and Rahul Rajkumar, under the Bridging Borders program and commended the initiative for strengthening global medical collaboration and rural outreach.
The Commissioner unveiled the poster for the 8th Edition of the Global Grace Cancer Run, expected to draw over 1.5 lakh runners across 130 countries in October in a hybrid format (online & in-person).
Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli, Founder of Grace Cancer Foundation and Senior Robotic Surgical Oncologist, described Bridging Borders as a landmark cross-continental initiative, connecting global youth to rural Indian healthcare. “This is how we build a healthier, cancer-free India—from the grassroots,” he said.
He emphasised that preventive healthcare is the doctor’s highest responsibility. HPV vaccination must be promoted to prevent cervical cancer, he said. He added that Lifestyle choices are at the root of major diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and lung ailments. He expressed hope to see a future where cancer surgeries are no longer needed due to successful prevention.
During the occasion, Dr Chinnababu announced that the Commissioner has proposed to screen about 1500 plus employees under the Nizambad Police Commissionerate for cancer. And the Grace Cancer Foundation will soon embark on the same.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Potharju Sai Chaitanya, the Police Commissioner hoped for a Cancer Free Nizamabad. No one knows the reasons for cancer. But it is widely believed as a lifestyle disease. The only way to fight it is to diagnose early. Detect it as early as possible and treat it. It is possible to treat cancer if it is diagnosed early, and improve the quality of life. It is very difficult to change the behaviour of people. Though police try their best to make riders wear helmets, they still do not follow our instructions. Doctors only have to create awareness about early diagnosis. He also urged people not to wait for somebody to come to their rescue. People on their part need to take care of their health, especially preventive health care, he told a 200-plus audience. Golden Telangana or Vikasit Bharath is only possible when villages develop. India lives in its villages. He appreciated the yeoman service of Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli, the founder of Grace Cancer Foundation and his team behind Grace Cancer Foundation.
Over 200 individuals were screened in a free day-long Cancer Screen Drive for various health indicators, including: Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, BMI, Mammography, Pap Smear, Oral Cancer Screening and Clinical Examinations, X-ray & and ECG
The Police Commissioner praised Grace Cancer Foundation’s work and stressed the importance of early detection in the fight against cancer. “Lifestyle diseases like cancer can be tackled only with timely diagnosis and awareness,” he said.
