A shining solution

Inspired by a personal experience, IAS officer Manisha Ahwale spearheaded project Nidan-a breast cancer awareness and screening initiative-in Solapur, empowering women to access timely diagnosis and treatment

- ANIL SWARUP

Breast cancer is a known killer disease, but if detected early, it can be cured. This is the story of a young IAS officer, Manisha Ahwale, who used her personal experience to come up with “Nidan.”

In 2017, just a few days before her first UPSC CSE interview, Manisha Ahwale’s mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She came along with her to Delhi as a support in her journey to become an IAS officer. Manisha was aware she couldn’t have cleared the exam without her mother by her side. Her mother was carrying the dreaded disease with her. Immediately after the interview, Manisha rushed home. Her mother’s treatment was managed by Dr Pathak in Nagpur. They would travel every week to Nagpur for her follow ups, her chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions. The whole process lasted more than three months. Considering they lived in the remotest corner of the district, it would take them more than four hours of one way journey to Nagpur, driving their way through potholed roads. She was brave and positive during the entire period. The check-ups were carried out regularly to assess any relapse.