Ashakiranam, the Cancer Care Campaign of Caritas India is the humanitarian concern of the Catholic Church in India towards supporting the cancer patients in Kerala and to promote preventive approaches to health disasters. The campaign started in Ernakulam district has spread to all the districts and crossed boundaries. The cancer care campaign is the model created in Kerala which was transformed into a movement to create consciousness and awareness of Cancer and gather support from different walks of life.

The campaign has conducted a range of engagements to reach not only the cancer patients through survey, detection camps, mobile screening, patient support, counselling and rehabilitation but also to the common masses through its innovative activities like public gathering, days of observance, volunteer promotion, and educative sessions.

Diocesan Liaison Officers (DLOs) have a key role in planning and executing the Ashakiranam programmes along with the directors of the social service societies in Kerala. DLOs are the ones who interact most with the resource team and volunteers during the planning time. Therefore, these officers must be conceptually clear with the Ashakiranam campaign.

A virtual meeting was organised for the Kerala DLOs by Caritas India on August 14, 2020, to acquaint them with the campaign and various responsibilities associated with their role.

“It is the social responsibility of the dioceses as well as the DLOs to strengthen and mainstream Ashakiranam programme for creating cancer resilient communities in Kerala. So, the role of the DLOs should transform into change-makers rather than implementing staff”, shared Fr. Jolly Puthenpura, the Assistant Executive Director to the participants in his opening remarks. He highlighted the importance of the volunteerism saying that Volunteers are the change-makers. He informed that as of now Caritas India has mobilized nearly 20,000 volunteers from Kerala and it is the first baby of Caritas India’s Cancer Care Campaign.

“Caritas India has expanded the programme across other southern states like Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana. So, Caritas India is expecting innovations and models from Kerala Ashakiranam Campaign”, shared Fr. Jolly.

Abeesh Antony, Programme Officer of Caritas India shared the trajectory of Ashakiranam Campaign scenario since its beginning and various developments that shaped the whole campaign. He briefed the participants about the Ashakiranam Cancer care campaign, its various thrust areas including cancer prevention, resource mobilization, patient support and volunteerism.

The key part of the training was the session of Dr. Deepthi M., Consultant, West Fort Hospital, Thrissur. Dr. Deepthi explained the current health situations in Kerala and the stressed on the importance of COVID19 precautions, she advised all the DLOs for the proper precautions in the COVID 19 responses and actions. Importance of special care for the vulnerable sections and communities of Kerala and guidelines prepared for the social workers and health workers to safeguard during this pandemic was shared by Dr. Deepti. She touched many important topics like psyscho oncology, psychosocial, gynecologic oncology, palliative care, telemedicine programme etc.

Operational Manager of Caritas India, Babita Alick presented the Ashakiranam Cancer campaign strategies and the importance of key strategic pillars. She also explained the perspectives, goal, focus and the objectives of the campaign.

Johnson Karukappilly, DLO of KSSS, Kothamangalam shared about the strategies implemented by his Diocese for the resource mobilization and how Ashakiranam Campaign was implemented with the support of local churches and different ministries. He also explained about the volunteer’s engagement actions in Ashakiranam Campaign.  Further, he clarified the functions of JEEVA Medicals and patient support activities. KSSS has 4 Medical shops where they provide medicine in 10 to 60 % discount rates. He informed that as part of Ashakiranam Campaign, the DSSS provides free medicines services to the registered members of KSSS Cancer Registry and more than 1 crore Rs. Medical aid has been provided through Jeeva Medicals.

Siby Paulose, Programme Officer of Caritas India Ashakiranam campaign in Kerala shared the roles and responsibilities of DLOs based on the strategic areas of Ashakiranam Campaign. She also spoke about Patient support actions, Prevention actions, Volunteerism, Resource Mobilization, Media Plan, Networking and linkages and Documentation. She presented the details of the Palliative Volunteer training Programme by Govt. of Kerala and mentioned the importance of the Cancer Registries and the Insurance programmes.

The orientation successfully disseminated the information to the participants to carry forward the mission to eradicate cancer from Kerala and build a resilient society.