Breast cancer accounts for 14% of cancers in Indian women and it is reported that every four minutes, an Indian woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.

The breast cancer awareness campaign is supported by Caritas India in Kerala to raise awareness of the basic facts about the disease, such as signs and symptoms, which will lead to cancers being caught earlier and increasing the chances of survival.

Caritas India in collaboration with the DSSSs observed the breast cancer awareness month by conducting quite a good number of awareness programmes in 14 districts in Kerala. Around 204 programmes have been conducted with the support of 31 DSSS partners. Massive awareness drives were organized in terms of cyclathon, rallies, webinars, awareness session, pink ribbon Campaign, Screening camps hair donation, wig donation, breast survivors honouring, survivor’s gathering, patient support service, Pink Resource Centre and 2250 Volunteers have been engaged for these activities

These activities are paving the way among the people of Kerala for building knowledge about breast cancer and also leading a healthy life so that the number of the increasing breast cancer cases in Kerala can be reduced and the health of the women in Kerala can be improved.

As the culmination of these good practices implemented in the DSSS of Kerala, the Ashakiranam has conducted massive awareness programmes through schools and youth volunteers, students’ volunteers with a Cyclathon.

As a part of it, conducted the programs for the Closing Ceremony of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Cycle Rally and Pink Ribbon Campaign in collaboration with Trivandrum Cluster partners are MSSS, QSSS, TSSS, NIDS and KIDS on Saturday 30th October 2021 with the support of Caritas India.

It was held on 30th October 2021 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. Rev. Fr. Sabaas Ignatius, the Director of Trivandrum Social Service Society, delivered the welcome speech especially for the special guests who were on the dais.

Mr. Abeesh Antony, the state in charge of Caritas India given the introductory remarks. The presidential address was delivered by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, the Head and Father of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church. Kerala State Transport Minister Mr. Antony Raju inaugurated the function with the flag off cycle rally. Felicitation speech was given by Mr. Johnson Joseph (Trivandrum Corporation Councilor), Rev. Fr. George Vettikattil (Director Kshema) and Rev. Fr. Rahul B Anto (Director NIDS). The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Rev. Fr. Thomas Mukalumpurath, the director of MSSS. The rally started from MSSS campus Pattom and finished at TSSS campus at Vellayambalam.

In another event, the Cochin Social Service Society (CSSS) organized Cycle and Two Wheeler Rally. The Rally started from the B OT Bridge, Thoppumpady on 23rd October which was flagged off by Sri. V.G. Raveendra Nath, Assistant Police Commissioner, Mattanchery. He congratulated CSSS for this effort and mentioned the relevance of creating awareness for reducing the intensity of cancer in this milieu and offered his support and cooperation to this Asakiranam venture. 78 Two-wheelers and 26 cycles participated in the rally having play cards with cancer awareness slogans, a pink balloon and a pink ribbon.

The Public Meeting at CSSS Campus was inaugurated by our honourable MLA Sri. K.J. Maxi. Dr. Anu C Kochukunju, the Senior Physician and Nodal Officer COVID 19 from Govt. Hospital Karuvelypady gave a message and briefing the symptoms, precautions, self-diagnosing, data of cancer rate in Kerala, type of cancer treatments and also the importance of changing the lifestyle.   The honourable MLA in his words suggested that taking precautions for preventing disease is better than treatment. So we have to change our lifestyle and willing to diagnose at an early stage thus we can control the rapid spreading of cancer. Rev. Dr. Augustine Kadeparambil, Director CSSS expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Caritas India for supporting the Ashakiranam program and other projects for the welfare of the marginalized people in the Cochin Diocese.  Mrs Siby Poulose, the Program Associate, Caritas India was felicitated in the meeting and offered her full support for the success of the program.