Collaborative Action for Control of Cancer and Other Non-Communicable Diseases among Mumbai Police

The Mumbai Police, a workforce of around 35,000, strive to enforce the law of the land, in order to create a fear free environment and make Mumbai a safer and better place to live. However, many researchers have established that this group that protects us, are themselves at high risk of all Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cancers.  The Police service has been identified as a stressful occupation because of long working hours, irregular dietary habits, irregular sleep patterns, lack of regular exercise and addiction to tobacco and alcohol predisposing them to several health risks.

We propose to undertake a research project to formulate a demonstration model on prevention, control and early detection of NCDs viz obesity, diabetes, hypertension for all, COPDs and Small Airway Diseases specifically for traffic Police and common cancers (oral cavity, breast, cervical) among the Police personnel and their families in Mumbai, that can be replicated in other parts of India. Capacity building of the existing Police Medical and health teams is ingrained within the project, so that the entire program becomes sustainable when the research project is complete.

Anticipated benefits: Around 70,000 people which includes 35,000 Police and 35,000 family members (expecting atleast one family member to participate) will be directly benefitted with health awareness, screening of NCDs and common cancers and de-addiction services. The actual benefit will be several folds higher, as this programme will create healthy Police families. This programme will also promote the advancement of Research Team within the Tata Trusts.

Background work undertaken till date: Several meetings have been held with the Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police of various zones ensuring their support for this program. Awareness sessions have been initiated at several Police Stations and some Police and their family members have started approaching the Department of Preventive Oncology, TMH for cancer screening.

A pilot camp was conducted at Matunga to understand the feasibility of the programme. 186 police personnel and their 19 family members participated in this camp. The prevalence of tobacco and alcohol addiction was much higher as compared to the population figures. Nearly 70% were obese, 22% were hypertensives and 17% diabetics. Many were detected with this health condition for the first time in the camp. Forty one police personnel were diagnosed with oral pre-cancers and one was diagnosed with invasive oral carcinoma. All these police were totally unaware about their oral lesions. The findings of this pilot camp re-inforce the fact that the prevalence of NCDs and cancers is very high among police personnel. Awareness on risk factors and their prevention, combined with screening for NCDs and cancers needs to be implemented urgently for all police personnel.

The entire proposal involves covering the entire Mumbai Police and their families with health awareness, cancer and NCD screening and de-addiction services over a period of 24 months. We want to build up a demonstrable and sustainable model to improve health of Police workforce in Mumbai that can be replicated all over the country.