Miss Jyoti Somabhai Patel, Nurse Manager in Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel, Mumbai, India, has recognized the tremendous potential nurses have in creating awareness and bringing positive change in the community, especially in the area of breast cancer awareness. If nurses are empowered with the right knowledge and skills regarding breast cancer awareness, early detection, and timely referral, they can create a significant impact and help reduce the burden of cancer worldwide.
With this vision, Jyoti Somabhai Patel initiated a Training of Trainers (TOT) Programme on Breast Cancer Awareness in Maharashtra. To implement this programme at the state level, she approached the Maharashtra Nursing Directorate and sought the necessary support and permission from the state government. With the encouragement and approval of the Maharashtra authorities, including Commissioner and IAS Officer Mr. Anil Bhandari, this important initiative was successfully organized.
The TOT programme was conducted on 4 April 2026. Two nurse leaders from each participating state government hospital were invited. The programme included a one-day intensive workshop consisting of both theoretical and practical sessions. During the workshop, participants received training on breast cancer awareness, early detection, breast health education, and the practical methods required to conduct awareness sessions in their own hospitals and communities.They also clearly explained how the programme should be implemented after the training. The trained nurse leaders became responsible for transferring their knowledge and skills to other nursing staff in their respective hospitals.
To ensure proper coordination and monitoring, a WhatsApp group was created for all the trained leaders. Before conducting awareness sessions, participants were required to complete a Pre-test, download and use the Dear You app, and conduct a Post-test after the session. Proper documentation was also maintained. Photographs of the training sessions were taken using a GPS-enabled camera, and signatures of all participants were collected.This structured approach helped monitor the programme and measure its impact. Within only five months, 7,043 nurses were trained through this initiative.
This achievement has strengthened the belief that nurses can become powerful ambassadors of cancer awareness. When one nurse leader is trained, that knowledge can be transferred to many other nurses, patients, families, and members of the community. This creates a multiplier effect that can reach thousands of people.
The goal is to expand this Training of Trainers model to every state in India. By empowering nurses across the country with standardized knowledge, practical skills, and digital health tools, breast cancer awareness can be strengthened, early detection promoted, and people encouraged to seek medical care at the right time.
As Jyoti Somabhai Patel emphasizes, empowering nurses is not only an investment in the nursing profession it is an investment in healthier communities. Together, a strong network of informed and empowered nurses can be built, taking breast cancer awareness from hospitals to homes and communities across India.
