World Cancer Day was observed on Thursday 4 February across the world to unite people in the fight against the global cancer epidemic through prevention, detection, and treatment.

As a compassionate response of the Catholic Church in India to help the people suffering from Cancer, Ashakiranam Cancer Care Campaign was launched in 2014 by Caritas India in Ernakulam district of Kerala. God’s own country which became a forerunner in surging cancer case in the country.

Evolved from the action-led compassion, the campaign became a movement and spread across all the districts of Kerala and further to other southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa. Over the yarrs, the Cancer Care Campaign has extended larger level of awareness on cancer and the importance of preventing the same for a healthy society emphasizing on the need for producing, conserving and consuming good food thereby promoting healthy lifestyles.

This year partners across all the southern states showed a united front while observing the World Cancer Day. The observance of the day showed a unified commitment to ending cancer by educating people and garnering support from people from different walk of life.

Each of the partners organised a host of activities under the theme “I Can, We Can” to invites every person of goodwill, inspired by faith to be sensitive to the needs of the affected and their families and harbour sensibility for affirmative action for prevention and support to those, who go through destitution.

Under the Ashakiranam Cancer Care Campaign in Kerala, Sahrudaya, Lisie hospital Ernakulam and Caritas India launched the telemedicine helpline service for cancer patients. The service helps the cancer patients to have convenient and easy access to their treatment by the specialist doctors.  Malayalam actor and advertising filmmaker, Sijoy Varghese inaugurated the telemedicine program in Lisie Hospital. Ms K A Ansiya, Deputy Mayor of Kochi Corporation shared that the telemedicine program would be useful in providing better treatment facilities and knowledge to ordinary patients through modern technologies and this telemedicine can avoid the chance of spreading the covid virus to the community.

She distributed wigs through Sahrudaya Hair Bank to the cancer patient who lost their hair during the treatment period. Sahrudaya reusable sanitary pads was also launched to ensure the health of women.

All 32 DSSS partners across Kerala conducted a good number of Cancer Awareness Programs. The Day witnessed around 312 cancer awareness programmes in form of webinars, awareness sessions from experts and doctors, organic promotion programmes as part of prevention aspect of cancer cases, cancer patients support programmes like food/nutrition kits to cancer patients, house visit and counselling, hair donation events, livelihood support programmes to cancer patients. The major focus of the day was the establishment of Tele-medicine programme by WSE, Ernakulam, Ashakiranam Mobile Mammogram unit of KIDS, Kottappuram and Ashakiranam new Cancer detection centre by TSSS, Tellicherry.

Apart from these good programmes, the State team has organized Cancer day events Kerala state team Of Caritas India Collaborating with KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation), Sacred Heart College Thevera , Ernakulam Social Service Society (ESSS), Welfare Services Ernakulam (WSE) – has Conducted a Mega Cancer Awareness Program as its important social responsibility to make the public aware of cancer and its effects. Under the Ashakiranam Campaign “FEED THE NEED” initiative was launched by Shri Ullas Thomas (District Panchayath President, Ernakulam) to provide a meal a day to the most deserving Chemo Patients across the state.

Volunteerism being the hallmark of the Cancer Care Campaign, 39 donors in Mangaluru City, voluntarily came forward to donate their hair for the patients who are suffering from Cancer during this day. These donors have inspired many and set an example to convey the message that contribution can be done in different forms, only willing is important.  Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP), Mangaluru, the official social development wing of Diocese of Mangaluru organized the hair donation event on World Cancer Day under the ‘SPARSHA’ Cancer Care campaign of Caritas India with the active support of 14 Diocesan Social Service Societies of Karnataka.

An excellent collaborative effort was shown by the Tamil Nadu partners by looping doctors and experts and conducted input cum awareness sessions on cancer. All the speakers emphasised the importance and the need for making changes in lifestyles, food habits etc. which major thrust on organic farming and eco-living. The partners have organised Cancer Screening cum Medical camps, Awareness Rallies, Distribution of herbal plants, Release of awareness songs, Distribution of Nutrition food, Signature Campaign, Awareness Programs and seminars, Orientation training to volunteers. More than 8700 people participated in these events to get educated about the menace of cancer and committed their fights against cancer.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Snehahastham Cancer Care Campaign of Caritas India garner huge support from the people. All the 13 partners observed this day by organising Rallies, Health walks, Awareness Talks by the Expert Doctors, Launching Fund Raising campaigns, Hair donation, Cultural programs etc. In a public event, Arch Bishop of Hyderabad Arch Diocese, His grace Rev Phoola Anthony lauded the efforts of Caritas India for supporting this Noble program and appreciated the HASSS actions under this program.  He appreciated all Snehahastham activities especially the volunteers and their activities.  He mentioned that according to the available data, 20 million people will be living with cancer by the year 2026.  People who die with cancer at least 1/3 could be preventable which in other terms means that 3 million lives could be saved through timely detection and care.  He stressed that students and youth can play a vital role in the fight against this deadly disease of which we can promote awareness on usage of alcohol, tobacco.

There was a brilliant response to the campaign where people has shown a real appetite for cancer eradication. All the state campaigns running under the Caritas India umbrella brought a positive change. The approach of the campaign would invite every person in the society to be a partner in the process not just because of the social responsibility concerns, but with a deeper concern for the poor.