Bengaluru: Cricketer, cancer survivor and philanthropist Yuvraj Singh’s YouWeCan Foundation, with support from Xiaomi India, has successfully completed Phase 1 and launched Phase 2 of the Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat preventive healthcare programme in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, screening a total of 14,000 women for breast cancer.
Phase-wise impact in Kalaburagi
Under Phase 1 of the initiative, 10,000 women were screened for breast cancer across the district. Following its success, Phase 2 was rolled out, enabling screening of an additional 4,000 women. Through structured community outreach and screening camps, the programme also educated over 21,000 women on breast health awareness and self-breast examination practices.
The initiative identified 565 suspected cases, all of whom received counselling and diagnostic follow-up, leading to the confirmation of four breast cancer cases and timely referral for further care.
Focus on early detection
Highlighting the objective of the programme, Yuvraj Singh said that breast cancer outcomes in India are often determined by late detection rather than lack of treatment. He noted that Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat was designed to take awareness, screening, and follow-up closer to women most vulnerable to delayed diagnosis, combining community engagement with technology-enabled screening and strong grassroots partnerships.
National scale of the initiative
Launched in July 2024, Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat is a large-scale preventive healthcare programme implemented across 15 aspirational districts in 15 states. At the national level, the programme has so far educated over 5 lakh people on breast health, screened more than 2 lakh women, identified over 2,700 suspected cases and confirmed 13 breast cancer cases, while ensuring continuity of care.
Building on the impact of Phase 1, the Foundation has announced Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat Phase 2.0, which will focus on expanding screening coverage, deepening community engagement, and strengthening integration with public health systems for long-term sustainability.
Corporate and public health collaboration
As the supporting partner, Xiaomi India enabled technology-driven screening solutions, supported capacity building at the grassroots level, and scaled awareness efforts across diverse geographies. Sudhin Mathur, COO, Xiaomi India, stated that the initiative demonstrates how technology, purpose, and scale can come together to empower women with early detection tools and enable timely intervention.
Strengthening grassroots healthcare
Beyond screenings, the programme has contributed to reducing stigma and fear associated with breast cancer and normalising preventive health conversations. It has also strengthened the capabilities of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and local health personnel.
Dr Ruqia Asna Rabah, District Surgeon and Superintendent, GIMS Hospital, Kalaburagi, said the initiative has significantly improved awareness and encouraged more women to come forward for screening, irrespective of their economic background.
About YouWeCan Foundation
The YouWeCan Foundation is a non-profit organisation working across the cancer care continuum through awareness, early detection, patient support, and survivor empowerment. Over the past decade, it has screened over 3.4 lakh women for breast cancer, supported treatment for more than 340 underprivileged children, established over 1,000 critical care beds in government hospitals, and sensitised over one million citizens on preventive health practices across India.
