Caritas India and Welfare Service Ernakulam (Sahrudaya), as a part of the Ashakirnam Cancer Care Campaign, has started a new Cancer Detection Mobile Clinic in Eranakulam with the support of MAJ Hospital, Edappally. 

“Cancer is a curable disease if it is diagnosed in the initial stage and the early detection camps and testings are very relevant nowadays,” said Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil (Metropolitan Vicar, Ernakulam – Angamaly Archdiocese. He congratulated Caritas India and Welfare Services Ernakulam for this Initiative while flagging off the vehicle on 5th January 2021 from Sahrudaya Auditorium Ponnurunni, Ernakulam.

This mobile clinic van is equipped to conduct screening test for breast, oral, skin, CA 125, and PAP SMEAR. It will cover 300 village in the Ernakulam Distruct during the course of one year.

Ashakiranam programme has followed the strategy of prevention by promoting early detection through diagnosis and screening to prevent this disease. It is established that the chances of cure increase if the Cancer is detected in the early stages. 

Inaugurating the function, Mr Hibi Eden (Member of Parliament, Ernakulam) appreciated the functioning of Caritas India and Welfare Services Ernakulam for the upliftment of the society in different ways. Cancer is spreading day by day and early testing can assess the situation and so we can do the needful treatment for the patient as soon as possible.

Fr. (Dr) Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Caritas India in his keynote speech shared about the inception of the Ashakiranam Cancer Care Campaign in Kerala in 2014. He spoke about the importance of resource mobilization and fund collection during this period and how Sahrudaya started an important and new venture of “Cancer Detection Mobile Clinic.

Inaugurating the Ashakiranam fund mobilization program, Fr. (Dr) Jolly Puthenpura, Assistant Executive Director, Caritas India shared his thoughts on the importance of fund collection. He also inaugurated the migration research centre in the Sahrudaya campus which is mainly set up for development for the migrants and provide help desk services for them. 

Fr. Antony Madathumpady, Executive Director, MAJ Hospital handover the MOU of Cancer Detection Mobile Clinic to Fr. Joseph Koluthuvellil. This mobile clinic will mainly be serving the hard-to-reach villages and providing free basic screening tests and advanced testing on discounted fees considering the financial condition of the patients. 

Cancer is increasing day by day and many of the families were struggling for the treatment financially. Sahrudaya supported many families financially and also promoted people for early testing, so it can be treated and cured. Personally, being happy to work with Caritas India and Sahrudaya, earlier we had associated in the vaccination drives for the migrant workers.     

Ms Femina George, an Indian actress working mainly in Malayalam films joined this noble initiative and distributed free wigs for Cancer Patients. Sahrudaya runs a hair bank and many people donate hair for making wigs and Sahrudaya help those needy people. Two cancer patients representatives came to receive the wigs for them.

Followed by the inauguration ceremony, Welfare Services Ernakulam organized a cancer detection camp for the staff and public in association with MAJ hospital, Edappally.  

Fr Ancil Maippan (Assistant Director, WSE), Ms Leeza (Thematic Lead, Caritas India), Mr Abeesh Antony (State in charge, Caritas India), Dr Johny Kannamppilly (Diabetician, Lake Shore Hospital, Kochi), Ms Siby Poulose (Program Officer, Caritas India), Mr. Pappachan Thekkekkara (General Manager, Sahrudaya), Mr Nixon Mathew (Finance Officer, Caritas India), Mr Anandhu Shaji (Consultant, Caritas India) were part of the program.