A new regular weekly slot each Monday on Punjabi Radio Station Raaj FM is giving the public the opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions of local health experts.

A series of topics will be covered over the coming months from immunisation to alcoholism.

The series of interviews and phone-ins continues next week with the topics of breast and cervical cancer, awareness and screening.

Two local specialists will be on hand to answer questions from the public. Dr Nidhi Singh is the Cervical Cancer Screening Co-ordinator and Dr Alexis Macherianakis is a Consultant in Public Health Medicine for Sandwell Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Dr Singh explained:” There are a lot of fears and misconceptions around the idea of cervical cancer and in particular the screening, which can be a life saver. This is one of the easiest cancers to detect through the existing screening programme and therefore has a very good survival rate.”

Dr Singh and Dr Macherianakis will make further appearances on the show later in the year, when they will discuss and answer questions on awareness of risk factors and early symptoms of cancer.

The show will be broadcast between 1 and 2pm on Monday 8th February and will open phone lines to members of the public to call in with their own questions.

For more information about both cervical and cancer screening locally people can visit the PCT’s website at http://www.sandwell.nhs.uk/