Mobile mammography & cervical screening · Tamil Nadu

Early detection, delivered to her doorstep.

A custom-built mobile unit carries digital mammography and pap smear testing across 30,000 sq km of rural Tamil Nadu — free screening, free follow-up, free surgery, for women who couldn't otherwise access it.

Project HEAL mobile screening vehicle
Host a camp See our impact
FY20–210Vehicle built & launched
FY21–2217Camps cumulative
FY22–2372Camps cumulative
FY23–2491Camps cumulative
FY24–25142Camps cumulative
142Camps completed
8,000+Women screened
30,000Sq. km covered
5Years of operation
The problem

Two treatable cancers. One barrier: access.

Breast cancer and cervical cancer are the two most common cancers among women — and both are simple and cost-effective to treat when caught early. But for underprivileged women in rural Tamil Nadu, regular screening is rarely within reach, and disease often goes undetected until it's advanced. Deep-rooted social stigma keeps many from seeking care even when symptoms appear.

“These are not cases of individual women being treated. These are cases where a family's future has been protected, because the breadwinner has been cured of a deadly disease.”

— B. Nowrathanmal Shankla, Chairman, Project HEAL Trust

HEAL stands for

High Awareness
Early Detection
Affordable Treatment
Low Mortality

An end-to-end model — awareness, screening, follow-up and free surgery — built with our medical partner Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH).

How a camp comes together

From awareness to free treatment, in five steps.

01

Identify a community

We partner with Rotary Clubs, companies, schools and NGOs to identify women who need screening.

02

Awareness program

Every camp is preceded by a session explaining the screening and encouraging attendance.

03

Screening day

The mobile unit arrives; KMCH staff conduct mammograms and pap smears on-site.

04

Free follow-up

Anyone who needs further testing is invited to KMCH at no cost to her.

05

Free surgery

Where surgery is the right course of action, it's provided entirely free of charge.

Beneficiaries and Project HEAL team at an awareness program before a screening camp
Women gathered outside the mobile screening unit at a camp
Beneficiaries receiving appreciation certificates after screening

More on our program →

FY2024–25

Our best year yet.

51 camps, almost one every week — reaching new ground in Pollachi, Karamadai, Perumanallur and Annur, and rolling out four new tools to make every camp more effective.

Awareness video

Produced by Rotary Mettupalayam, shown before every camp to prepare beneficiaries.

Beneficiary certificates

Every woman who completes screening is recognised with a certificate — since July 2024.

SMS reminders

Automated day-before reminders have measurably cut absenteeism.

Bring a screening camp to your community.

Rotary Clubs, companies, schools and NGOs across our coverage region can host a free camp — we handle the medical staff, equipment and logistics.

Get involvedContact us