Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu which is bestowed with various eco-systems, including beaches, mountains, valleys, evergreen forests, and plantations tops the State in Human Development Index (HDI), literacy rate (91.96%) and higher education. It has always been a leader in most development parameters creating a strong foundation for the self-sufficiency of the district.

The district has a coastline of 72 km which accounts for 6.7 percent of Tamil Nadu coastline and it has almost 42 coastal hamlets that is the abode for 25.8 percent of the total fishers in Tamil Nadu. This shows that one-fourth of the fishing population in Tamil Nadu lives in the narrow strip of land stretching along the shore in Kanyakumari District. Equally distributed are the farm-based communities. The district is one of the least industrialised in the State but home to hundreds of health care institutions.

It had been observed that the attitude of majority both coastal and rural population on public health and hygiene has an enormous bearing on total sanitation in the villages. In this context, attempts were made to sensitize the communities through education and health camps to draw their attention to the importance of health and hygiene at individual, family and community levels.

Kottar Social Service Society (KSSS) has taken lead in health for all mission with the facilitation of Caritas India. Though a total of 22 villages including 12 coastal villages and 10 interior villages are covered under health and wellbeing programme, the mission is shared among all the stakeholders of the Kottar Diocese through the well drafted 2025 health agenda for the entire Diocese.

On 25th February 2019, a mass health awareness campaign was formally inaugurated by the Bishop of Kottar, Most.Rev.Nazarene Soosai for the second consecutive year at Mandaikadupudur. During his presidential address, Bishop insisted that the richness of the district’s unique tradition and food consumption pattern should be brought back by the concerted efforts of the sensitised communities. “Focus on preventive health measures. We have to take collective responsibility in devising strategies for the protection of water bodies and solid waste management” he advised the gathering. He said, “Be watchful; exploitation of rich natural resources that the district is made up of leads to an irreparable loss in terms of environmental degradation and subsequent health-related issues”.

Dr.Madhusudhan, Joint Director, Kanyakumari District Health Department spoke on communicable and non-communicable diseases and how general public and NGOs can play a significant role in improving the health standards in the district.

Dr.John Arokiaraj, Caritas Thematic Manager while giving the inaugural address said, “ Let us revert to our traditional food practices for a healthy generation.

Lifestyle diseases are resultant of corporate conspiracy. This needs to be combated with concerted efforts. He invited the student community to take lead in making the public aware of the causes and consequences of non-communicable lifestyle diseases. He explained the connectedness among physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing for holistic health.

Rev.Fr. Michael Raj, KSSS Director said that mass awareness campaigns offer the widest possible exposure in reaching out to large numbers of people within a short timeframe. Experiences show that increasing health-seeking behaviour leads to reducing the morbidity ratio and linkages with an appropriate organization are of great support for effective implementation of the health improvement activities. He shared the alarming data on the health status of the district based on the recent research findings. He gave the details of 90 sensitisation programmes organised during the last one year that was instrumental in KSSS directly reaching out to 7966 persons.

The campaign was formally flagged off jointly by Bishop Nazarene and Dr. John Arokiaraj. “Let us continue the journey toward building a health movement 2025” they cheered.

12 member team from Kalari Folk Arts Centre – the Diocesan Social Communication Wing enacted street plays and other cultural awareness programmes on health in 9 coastal villages namely, Mandaikadupudur, Periyavilai, Kadiapattinama, Muttom, Pillaithoppu, Pallam, Annai Nagar, Arockiapuram and Chinnamuttom.

The 12 hour nonstop one day campaign received the patronage of Parish Priests, Religious Communities, members of women groups, coastal peace and development units, fishermen Sangam, youth, school children, pious organisations, local panchayat leaders, police department, health and education institutions.