REACHING CANCER SUFFERING PATIENTS THROUGH VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are the hallmark of the Ashakiranam – Cancer Care programme. Over 5000 volunteers across 3 clusters will help in creating compassionate environment for the patients and caregivers. The plan is to mobilize 10,000 committed volunteers to work across length and breadth of the state to spread the message of cancer prevention.

Series of volunteers’ meet were organized for the Ashakiranam Volunteers in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Trivandrum clusters in Kerala on 2nd, 3rd and 5th of August 2016 respectively. These volunteers are school children, health professionals, agricultural experts, artists and common people from across ages and socio-economic backgrounds.

Ashakiranam is the new table, set by Caritas India for hundreds and thousands of people suffering from cancer in Kerala. The focus is to provide aid and palliative care to cancer patients, training volunteers and rehabilitating families of cancer patients.

Home based palliative support is one of the most important pillars of the programme. This was made possible in collaboration with the reputed medical institutions in Kerala.

The programme has become a movement in extending larger level awareness on cancer and the importance of the same for a healthy society. Renowned Oncologist Dr. V. P. Gangadharan had organized cancer awareness seminar for all the volunteers. Volunteers gain new skills while contributing their own experience and expertise to the noble cause as well as their winning smiles and selfless enthusiasm.

The programmes saw the launch of Caritas India Lavender ribbon campaign, theme song, financial support distribution and volunteer manual.

Ashakiranam had paved the way for fresh look towards cancer care through promotion of healthy eating habits, organic farming, awareness, assistance in cash and kind to the poor and cancer affected, medical camps and gathering more people to the noble cause.