Digital document management helps to collect data in real-time and permanently documents information that can be accessed later or re-purposed into another format. This is particularly cost-effective, has a wider reach and is useful for a State level programme like Ezhuvom Iyakkam – Tamil Nadu State level Cancer Care Campaign wherein 27 Diocesan partners are actively implementing multifarious activities.

The 3 days capacity building programme for 37 Ezhuvom Iyakkam coordinators and volunteers on digital documentation was held at Sangamam Pastoral Centre, Thuckalay from 27^th  to 29^th  April 2022. Being the localhost, the Director of Kanyakumari Social Service Society, Fr. Aby Poovathummoottil took care of overall arrangements including exposure and field visits. The programme started with the facilitator Dr John Arokiaraj, Thematic Lead, Caritas India giving an orientation on the purpose, significance and benefits of digital documentation. He said that since 27 partners are implementing one programme with varied activities if we have one uniform and standardised approach for documentation, it will become effective to showcase the impact and to this end, digital documentation will play a significant role.

Mr.Jesvar Fernando, a digital media expert in CBRF-Caritas India was the resource person for the session on photography and videography. He invited the participants to pick one or a few of their best clicks in the past. The objective was to understand what the picture was portraying so that participants clearly understood that every picture carries a message or expresses a story. A very basic question – ‘What does your photo say? ‘was posed in this workshop.  The idea behind was to ensure that the participants were sensitized to the aspect that every moment captured must speak for itself even when it is viewed after many years.

His sessions covered the topics of basic photography and videography that included keeping the subject in focus, exposure – adjusting the brightness level, selection of shots and angle, rule of third – using grid option, picture enhancement – colour correction, cropping and exposure level, video making and editing, scriptwriting, shooting script,  setting,  scene cultivating, shot composition, lighting, sound, trim, transaction, audio track, output and storage and transfer. Avoiding sensitive content and following general visibility guidelines were interesting discussions during the workshop.

Mr.Rajbharath explained how  KoBo Tool becomes effective in digital documentation. He educated the participants on preparing questionnaires using different options and using discretion in logically sequencing questions with relevant options. He also made it clear how data can be stored through cloud computing and secured off-site backups can be maintained. By making the participants work on a model data tool, he explained how the data can be uploaded in the google sheets showcasing the work of the diocesan team individually and collectively at the State level.

The on-field training saw the participants being divided into 6 groups each of them having the opportunity to experience the various activities of 4 Diocesan Social Services Societies namely Kottar SSS, MIDS, KKSSS and MIDS. These institutions are active in the Kanyakumari district addressing the issue of cancer through different interventions like Palliative care both institutional and home-based, skill training, income generation programmes, organic farming methods and volunteers and health personnel accompaniment.

The members prepared questionnaires and discussion points for understanding and recognising the inequities in cancer care to address the ‘Close the Care Gap’ campaign through contextualisation. The hard facts of inequity in cancer care costing lives, barriers faced by people seeking cancer care, and the negatively influencing factors like low income, illiteracy,  discrimination based on caste, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle have been discussed with cancer affected and their community so as to document those lived experiences to guide our thoughts and actions.

The group that visited KIDSS operational area interacted with 18 final year nursing students working as volunteers. They gained new insights regarding palliative care and understood that if the social and health workers work in tandem we can create a cancer-free society. The team that went to Kottar social service society interacted with skilled entrepreneurs. They have shared the knowledge on value-added products, organic farming, nutrition garden promotion and integrated farming that are contributing to enhanced entrepreneurship skills among the rural population to contribute to family income.

The team that visited the home-based palliative care of Mother Theresa palliative care unit, could identify health and hygiene practices, interact with the cancer patients and their family members and get to know their present stage of cancer, ongoing medication practices, understand the impact of cancer on the patients and their families and other difficulties faced by them in their day to day life. All the proceedings were digitally documented, a total of 6 videos were made by the participants and shared in the feedback session wherein each participant could appreciate and critique the work. It was a process of learning by doing.

Ms.Meenakshi of Vallioor MSSS was taken up by the experiences and said “ I was frightened of using smartphone except for attending phone calls and seeing WhatsApp messages and was worried when I came for the training. Now I have gained confidence and can use my phone to document field-based activities. I thank the organisers.”

Ms.Basil of Perambalur SSS was appreciative of the opportunity given to the participants for collective learning, exchange of knowledge and good practices and oneness of the group. During the concluding session, Mr.Justus of TMSSS, Trichy and Sr.Michel of Kuzhithurai said that we can judiciously use the digital systems for development work and it is a good beginning to imagine a better way of doing things and to build a fairer vision of the future where people live healthier lives and have better access to health and cancer services no matter what their living context is.