Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month through a series of awareness, screening and community engagement initiatives across Jharsuguda, Mines and BALCO.
Reaching over 1,400 beneficiaries and participants, the programmes brought together healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, employees and community members to encourage informed conversations around breast cancer, how to improve access to healthcare services and strengthen understanding of timely medical intervention.
Observed globally each October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a platform to raise awareness about breast health, promote early detection, and encourage timely access to care. Aligned with this objective, VAML’s initiatives focused on bringing healthcare closer to communities through awareness sessions, screenings, and specialised medical support, while fostering open conversations that help reduce stigma and strengthen support systems for those affected by the disease.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “The quality of life within a community is closely linked to its awareness of health and wellbeing. Building that awareness requires consistent engagement, open dialogue and access to the right knowledge at the right time.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to encourage these conversations and promote a more proactive approach towards women’s health. Through such initiatives, we hope to contribute to more informed, resilient and healthier communities.”
In Jharsuguda, VAML partnered with BALCO Medical Centre (BMC) to bring specialised healthcare services directly to communities through a two-day cancer screening camp. The programme screened about 145 community members, referred around 35 women for mammography, and facilitated Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing for over 50 women. Supported by a specialised medical team and mammography services, the initiative enabled women to access consultations and screening facilities closer to home while opening up conversations around breast and cervical health.
Extending these efforts into nearby communities, Vedanta’s mining operations engaged about 30 women through a dedicated breast health programme at Bartap Anganwadi Centre. Facilitated by healthcare professionals and supported by employee volunteers, the session focused on women’s health and wellbeing, encouraging participants to better understand preventive care and the importance of seeking timely medical support.
At BALCO, the month’s engagements underscored the many dimensions of the cancer journey. While a breast cancer awareness programme organised with The Times of India brought together over 50 participants and marked the announcement of Total Body Irradiation (TBI) services at BALCO Medical Centre, the Samarth Patient Support Survivor Meet placed the spotlight on resilience, welcoming over 100 cancer survivors.
The campaign further engaged communities through a self-defence training programme for about 50 women, a health seminar led by Dr Rajendra Patel attended by more than 30 participants, and the ‘Ride for A Cause’ Cyclothon, which mobilised over 1,000 supporters.
The month-long series of engagements concluded with a sector-wide webinar, ‘Hope, Strength, Awareness: United Against Breast Cancer’, organised by BALCO and BALCO Medical Centre for employees across Vedanta Aluminium, bringing together experts and employees for conversations on breast health, early detection and preventive care.
While each initiative served a different purpose, together they highlighted a broader shift towards greater openness and engagement around women’s health. By creating spaces for dialogue, participation and shared learning, the programmes encouraged communities to engage more actively with breast health and wellbeing.
