Chennai, Dec 7 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Health Minister, Ma. Subramanian, has revealed that the special medical camps organized under the 'Nalam Kakkum Stalin' initiative will now take place twice weekly instead of once, enabling the government to meet its target for the camps within the designated timeframe.

In a statement released by the Health Department, the minister explained that this decision followed a thorough assessment of the program's progress, which was overseen by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.

Due to the positive public response and the significant health needs identified through these camps, the frequency has been increased. The camps will now occur on Thursdays and Saturdays in all revenue districts throughout the state.

Launched in August, the 'Nalam Kakkum Stalin' scheme is a key initiative by the Tamil Nadu government, designed to offer free health screenings, early diagnoses, and treatment referrals, particularly for the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.

Out of the planned 1,256 camps, 678 have already been conducted over the last 18 weeks. Official figures indicate that nearly 10 lakh individuals have benefited from medical services provided through these camps to date. With the new schedule, the remaining camps are expected to be completed soon.

Highlighting the program's successes, the health minister reported that six new cancer cases were identified in Kancheepuram district alone, including two breast cancer cases and four cervical cancer cases.

“These cases were detected early, and the patients are already undergoing treatment,” the statement indicated. Additionally, new tuberculosis cases have also been uncovered through these screenings. The total number of cancer cases detected across Tamil Nadu will be disclosed later after statewide data compilation.

The statement also mentioned that the camps will prioritize individuals suffering from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, those with mental health challenges, heart patients, pregnant women, lactating mothers, children with special needs, differently abled individuals, members of tribal communities, and economically disadvantaged groups.

The Health Department emphasized that increasing the frequency of the camps will enhance preventive healthcare, promote early detection of serious illnesses, and ensure timely treatment, ultimately reducing long-term health complications.

The government reiterated its dedication to delivering quality healthcare services to the grassroots level across Tamil Nadu.