WinZO, India’s largest interactive social gaming platform, has launched the ‘Play to Prevent Cancer’ initiative to raise funds for early cancer detection through genetic counselling. This initiative aims to raise awareness among its 200 million users on the critical role of early cancer detection and genetic counselling.
Through the ‘Play to Prevent Cancer’ hour, WinZO raised funds with the help of its users, and its 200 team members matched the amount raised, increasing the total donation. This money is being donated to the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at Tata Memorial Hospital. The funds will be used to train the gene counselling team at Tata Memorial Hospital to enhance India’s early cancer detection capabilities.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in India, with around 13 million Indians losing their lives to cancer between 2000 and 2019. The partnership between WinZO and Tata Memorial Hospital aims to address the rising cancer risk in India through genetic counselling. The initiative focuses on skill development for genetic counselling, supporting gene reporting, screening, and family counselling.
The low-cost genetic testing lab at Tata Memorial Hospital will allow more Indians, from various socioeconomic backgrounds, to access this critical intervention. Dr. Rajiv Sarin, Head of the Cancer Genetics Clinic at Tata Memorial Hospital, emphasised the importance of skilled professionals in maximising the impact of genetic counselling. He stated, "These Cancer Genetic Professionals would provide timely, culturally sensitive, individualised, and evidence-based genetic counselling to cancer patients."
The initiative also tackles the mental health challenges that cancer patients face. Studies show that 20 per cent of cancer patients experience depression and 10 per cent experience anxiety. WinZO’s platform has been helping cancer patients combat these challenges by offering therapeutic games that reduce stress, anxiety, and social isolation. These games provide an opportunity for patients to engage in mental exercises, such as improving cognitive flexibility and attention control, offering an alternative coping mechanism during treatment.
Nachiket Mor, Scientist at The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health, emphasised the potential of gaming in healthcare, stating, "By integrating gaming into cancer care, we can foster resilience, enhance patient support, and create a more compassionate healthcare system."
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