Sundargarh (Odisha), March 17, 2025: Reinforcing its commitment to preventive healthcare and community well-being, Vedanta Aluminium, in collaboration with BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), Raipur, one of India’s leading cancer care hospitals, has successfully organized a comprehensive cancer screening and awareness drive under its flagship healthcare initiative “Project Arogyam – Cure with Care.” The drive was conducted at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Belpahar (Jharsuguda district) and Bileimunda (Sundargarh district), offering crucial medical support to rural communities in western Odisha.
The initiative, designed to promote early diagnosis and awareness about cancer, brought together healthcare experts, community leaders, and local residents in a collective effort to strengthen healthcare access in the region. As part of this programme, 182 people from nearby villages benefitted from free cancer screening, medical consultations, and awareness sessions. The camp focused on detecting early signs of common cancers such as breast, cervical, and oral cancer, which remain prevalent in rural India due to lack of awareness and limited medical facilities.
In an exemplary show of care and compassion, BALCO Medical Centre has also committed to providing free treatment for individuals diagnosed with cancer during the screening. Furthermore, accommodation for one attendant per patient will be provided during the entire treatment period, ensuring that families from economically weaker backgrounds can access quality medical care without additional financial burden.
Appreciating the initiative, Mr. Jitender Munda, Assistant Block Development Officer (ABDO), Hemgir (Sundargarh), said, “Vedanta’s cancer screening and awareness camp is a commendable effort that brings quality healthcare closer to people in need. Early detection and awareness are vital in the fight against cancer, and such initiatives go a long way in saving lives and fostering healthier communities.”
Highlighting Vedanta’s focus on holistic healthcare, Mr. David Stone, CEO – Coal Mines, Vedanta Limited, remarked, “Community health is a cornerstone of our social impact initiatives. Through projects like Arogyam, we aim to make quality healthcare accessible to even the remotest areas. Our interventions—ranging from mobile health units to specialized medical camps—are designed to ensure that every individual, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
Vedanta Aluminium’s Project Arogyam is part of its broader mission to deliver inclusive and sustainable community development in Odisha. The initiative complements other ongoing healthcare projects such as Mobile Health Units (MHUs), maternal and child health programmes, and awareness drives on preventive healthcare and hygiene.
By partnering with BALCO Medical Centre, Vedanta is not only addressing the immediate medical needs of communities but also creating a long-term impact through awareness, education, and early diagnosis. The cancer screening drive underscores Vedanta Aluminium’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and building a healthier, more resilient rural Odisha.
