Cancer Care Campaign in Tamil Nadu is named as Ezhuvom Iyakkam. After much thought deliberations, since January 2020, it is being implemented in 21 Dioceses through 27 Diocesan Social Service Society (DSSS)  partners. The key interventions include Programme Launch by  27 DSSSs to give orientation to stakeholders comprising people from different walks of public life and institutionalisation of various committees for sustainable mechanism more significantly volunteer base.

Networking with Social Work Depts, Colleges/Universities, collaboration with District Health Departments and Government General Hospitals, PRI Interface, State level campaigns and involvement of school students through awareness programmes and competitions, interface with likeminded organsiations and resource mobilisation for self-sustenance are the plans developed by partner DSSSs in a participatory manner. DSSSs role in referral of cancer identified palliative care, promotion of organic farming and good food campaign contributes to addressing the core cancer issues.

DSSSs has successfully completed the launch of the programme and also observed World Cancer Day that had the direct participation of 53579 people under 52 programmes representing students, SHGs, health institutions, parishioners and the general public. They have formulated Tamil Nadu State level Ezhuvom Iyakkam Campaign Action Plan with key interventions for the period January 2020- January 2021 with well-defined outcome indicators on core programme, volunteering, networking, resource mobilisation and communication.

While the campaign was picking up momentum, the spread of COVID 19 pandemic has put a break to the ongoing efforts. Both cancer and COVID 19 diseases are attached to a lot of stigma and are health-related issues. Taking care of the elderly, persons with comorbid conditions and children are the biggest challenges. Undeterred by this pandemic, the DSSSs have planned to identify the cancer patients and to extend care and treatment to them.

Many of the Diocesan Directors are of the view that individuals with cancer, particularly those who are receiving systemic anticancer treatments, have been postulated to be at increased risk of mortality from COVID-19. Not providing timely effective treatments to cancer patients because of the contingencies of the pandemic runs the very real risk of increasing cancer morbidity and mortality. It could be perhaps much more so than COVID-19 itself.

Cancer patients are not only more susceptible to contracting the virus compared with the general population, but also at risk of developing more severe sequelae. They along with their families and caregivers are disproportionally impacted by the pandemic and are twice as likely to become infected than the general population. Their condition can significantly worsen once they are infected. Hence their perceived vulnerability cancelled cancer operations and absence of face-to-face consultations with doctors keep them under severe stress.

DSSSs are acting on two different strategies to reduce the risk of cancer affected during the pandemic. The first is to ensure that individuals diagnosed with cancer are taking appropriate precautions to avoid unnecessary exposure to the virus. The second is to consider whether changes to their treatment strategy could be implemented to reduce their risk of infection.

As in the case of Kuzhithurai Integrated Development Social Services (KIDSS), the team had taken the list of Cancer, TB and HIV/ AIDS patients who are taking treatment from 5 primary health centres under Melpuram Block Hospital, identified poor patients and with the help of the Counsellor Ms. Rejini supported with food basket comprising of grocery items, vegetables and Nendran Banana. In order to prevent  Corona Virus disease contract, the volunteers received the medicines from the hospitals and handed over to the patients at their homes. In a similar manner, few other DSSSs procured and supplied protein supplements, vegetables and fruits to cancer-affected and other chronically-ill patients during the lockdown. Regular distribution of food packages for the vulnerable cancer patients and extending palliative care for the penurious patients are in the plan.

During the Ezhuvom Iyakkam-Cancer Care Campaign way forward meeting organised by Dr. John Arokiaraj, Manager, Caritas India in July 2020, the Diocesan Directors said that we should not look at Cancer and COVID 19 diseases as two separate entities. Both Ezhuvom Iyakkam and COVID 19 relief address the health needs of the target people. Hence, we must realign and work to address the health needs comprehensively.

‘As the frontline workers/service providers, we should know about the State schemes and mobilize the same with the support of our team in order to help our target people. Development is not simply urbanization rather it is the integrated development which encompasses all spheres of life such as social, economic, cultural and political. Try to focus on rural livelihood and rural development. We must make MGNREGS as result-based and productive and more such programmes should be initiated in the rural areas. We are the leaders of our own dioceses. It is our prerogative to come out with new plans and new thinking’ said Fr (Dr) Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Executive Director of Caritas India.

The idea was endorsed by TASOSS Director- Fr.Albert Thambidurai who said that COVID 19 pandemic caused reverse migration; a lot of people have returned to their native villages from urban settings. Hence it is proposed to make use of the cancer campaign programme and think of other rural livelihood initiatives for the good of the target people. 10 to 20 volunteers would be formed in each of the target villages and DSSS could deliver the developmental programs through them.

As part of strategizing opportunities creation for the welfare and development of the marginalized, DSSSs have started to conduct small group awareness programs following government advisory, promotion of nutrition garden, nutritious food campaign, volunteers guidance through digital mode and use of IEC materials for awareness creation. Indeed COVID 19 pandemic is posing new challenges and there is a change in the attitude of people who think it is better to live peacefully in rural areas moving closer to nature leading a self- dependent healthy life.