The Catholic Church in India through Caritas India runs a cancer care campaign in Kerala called Ashakiranam to support patients and encourage preventive measures against health hazards. Launched in Ernakulam district in 2014, the campaign is now rolled out in all districts of Kerala and expanded across state lines. The campaign has employed various methods to reach out to cancer patients, including Surveys, Detection camps, Mobile screening, Patient support, Counseling and Rehabilitation.

Ashakiranam has also made significant strides in engaging people from different spheres in the fight against cancer through various creative activities like public gatherings, days of observance, volunteer promotion, patients support, resource development, awareness programmes and more. The campaign has been implemented with the support of 31 DSSS partners in Kerala.

Every four months, a cluster review meeting is held to support the existing partners to sustain the programme with innovative ideas and new learnings. This meeting is also organised to comprehensively present the ongoing campaign activities by the Diocesan Social Service Societies (DSSS) partners and review the programmes implemented over the last three months for better functioning. One of the main objectives of such reviews is to plan activities for the next quarter. Cluster meetings enable partners to meet at a predetermined time to share ideas and discuss overcoming challenges in innovative projects and implement new activities.

Recently, Cluster meetings were held on 11, 22, 23 November 2022 for North, Central and South Clusters respectively at different locations in Kerala. Diocesan Liaising Officers (DLO) from 31 dioceses participated in the review meeting, and shared their activities reports and new programme initiatives for the reporting quarter period with PPT presentations “These kind of meetings help in identifying activities more effectively and bring positive changes in the intervention sectors” said by Rev. Fr. George Pottakkal, Director, KSSS, Kothamangalam. Mr. Abeesh Antony, Caritas State Programme Associate provided the context of the meeting. He reiterated the importance of the review and planning meeting before DLOs started their presentations.

Each DLO introduced activities related to cancer care programmes that were initiated and implemented, such as cancer prevention, resource mobilization, volunteerism and patient support, sensitizing events and more. Activities under the cancer care programme during the reporting period covered cancer prevention clubs, medical camps, awareness classes, financial support for cancer patients, hair donation camps, medical equipment for cancer bedridden patients, pink day observation as part of Breast cancer awareness, Can-care Battalion and Lavender Army programmes and breast cancer detection and screening tests. While resource mobilization activities included sponsorship programmes, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, linkage programs, supported by CSR and micro mutual benefit schemes. “Through continuous engagements by the active community level volunteers, the resources can be developed, and sustainability in financial aid of patients can be ensured” said by Mr. Johnson while sharing the activity reports of KSSS, Kothamangalam.

Programmes for safe food culture promotion include organic farming, kitchen garden, seed distribution, open market programs, distribution of toxin-free seafood products and startups for organic food products which also act as a medium for income generation projects were widely carried out by all the DSSS partners. Articulating the need to develop healthy food habits among communities, Ms. Sheeba, DLO, CHASS, Changanassery said “We need to make efforts and find ways to ensure delivery of healthy food items from local farmers through small outlets through church and institutions.” Activities including the promotion of menstrual cups and cotton pads among women as a safe alternative was shared by Ms. Shiny from Chethana, Mavelikkara, and Ms. Monisha from ADS, Alappuzha. As part of safe food and resource mobilization programme activities such as Ashakiranam Canteen programme which utilizes home-cooked food from organic farms was brought up by Mr. Rineesh from QSSS Quilon. Initiatives by HDS, Idukki covered Tribal Development support plans which entailed carrying out awareness and preventive measures among tribal populations against cancer with the support of NABARD.

Caritas India team appreciated and acknowledged all the innovative campaign ideas suggested. After each presentation, a rigorous evaluation was held to initiate support to all DLOs for the way forward with regard to programme planning. The challenges faced during the implementation phase were discussed by the DLOs as well as possible solutions with consultative approaches. “Even if there are challenges, there is a strong desire and zeal to overcome them and to embed them with the campaign activities. The happiness and joy the campaign showers are precious” said by Ms. Prameela, DLO, VSSS, Vijayapuram.

A group discussion was also conducted for the formulation of the next quarter’s activities after the report presentation by the DSSS DLOs. The discussions led to deliberations on a host of ideas and initiatives relating to volunteerism and the upcoming Christmas season, such as Volunteer gatherings, volunteer registration camps, Carol for Cancer, Tree for treatment support, Christmas Gift and home visit to cancer patients. Mass awareness programmes as part of Cancer Day observation in the month of February were also discussed as activities for Ashakiranam for the next quarter. The group discussions were moderated by Mr. Abeesh Antony.

The review meetings concluded with a comprehensive summary of the DLOs presentations by Mr Abeesh Antony who asserted that only through collective action the campaign can optimize its intended outcomes and serve the people better. He also appreciated the effort rendered by DSSS Directors and DLOs. Fr. Samuel Vilayil, Director of Bodhana, Thiruvalla stressed the importance of sustainability and resilience of the campaign programme while appreciating all the DLOs. “We should be able to spread the good and model ideas implemented in each DSSS to other DSSS and scale up the campaign through solidarity efforts” wished by Fr. Samuel Vilayil.