Student to become global health ‘legend’
AMEDICAL student is to feature in a new campaign - Health Legends - highlighting growing importance of global health in keeping people safe.
Originally from India, Sai Pillarisetti moved to Lancashire in 2017 and was inspired to study medicine at UCLan after watching both his grandmothers suffer from breast cancer.
As part of his training, he spends a great deal of time working in Accrington PALS Primary Health Centres and the Accrington Victoria Community Hospital.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how our health is connected and by sharing their own personal experiences, Health Legends like Sai hope more people will understand the importance of good health both locally and around the world.
The initiative is supported by a group of organisations working on global health.
Working with the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer
Foundation, a not for profit breast cancer charity in Hyderabad, Sai, who lives in Manchester, played a key role in the development of a breast healthcare app, “ABC’s of Breast Health.”
The app is designed to ensure that information relating to breast health is accessed by women in rural India and demystifies many of the common myths surrounding the disease, ensuring that users are well informed with accurate information.
He said: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in India.
“Due to a lack of awareness and the absence of an organised screening programme, more than half of patients only come to the doctor when the disease is in the advanced stages. Most succumb to the illness within a year of being diagnosed.
“The opposite is true in Western countries.
“I believe that if we work together, healthcare systems around the world can keep everyone happy and healthy, regardless of geographical location or economic status.
Professor Cathy Jackson, Executive Dean of the Medical School at the University of Lancashire, said: “Sai’s work in developing a breast health app in a bid to help reduce breast cancer both in the UK and India is a fantastic idea which embodies the culture on our MBBS programme to teach students to look at, question and add to the evidence base of medicine both in practical and research field.