“Ezhuvom Iyakkam” Cancer Care Campaign
Project Name: “Ezhuvom Iyakkam” Cancer Care Campaign
Place: Erode Collectrate, Erode Cancer Centre & CEEMA, Thindal, Erode.
Date: 04th & 06th, February, 2020.
Presided By: Msgr. Rev.Fr.Johon Joseph Stanis,V.G.,
&Vice President of CEEMA.
Organised By: Fr.S.Pushpanathan, Director, CEEMA.,
Erode Cancer Centre, Erode,
No of Participants: 930.
Cancer awareness Rally: (number of participants 500)
Cancer Awareness Rally “EzhuvomIyakkam” in connection with Cancer Care Campaign was held inErode on 4th February 2020.It also coincided with the observance of Cancer Day. The rally provided awareness among the public to create a cancer-free Erode. The rally was organized by CEEMA in association with Erode Cancer Centre (ECC). It was inaugurated by the District Collector Mr. C. Kadiravan. Other dignitaries participated in the rally included Dr. Velavan (M.D., Erode Cancer Centre), Dr. Suresh (Medical officer, ECC), J.J. Bharthi Chairman,Selva Charitable Trust, Erode. The rally started at 9 am from the KalingarayanIllam and ended at KonguKaliyarangam, Sampath Nagar. The students of Nunda College and SHG members around 500 peopleparticipated in the rally.
Seminar on Cancer Care: (number of participants 300)
- Followed by the rally, a seminar was organized at Erode Cancer Center, Thindal, Erode. It was addressed by Mrs. Lakshmi ML, Secretary/Pro-Judge (District Legislative Commission) Erode, Mr. Shanmugan Chairman, Nanda Education Institution, Dr. K. Velavan, MD, ECC, Fr. S. Pushpanathandirector, CEEMA, and Mr. J.J. Bharthi Chairman, Selva Charitable Trust, Erode. A signature campaign was also organized to generate cancer awareness. In this seminar the nursing students for Nanda Collage and nursing students of Erode Cancer Centre and the patients and bystanders also participated.
Launch of Cancer Care Campaign: (number of participants 130)
- The launch of the project “EzhuvomIyakkam” Cancer Care Campaign was held at CEEMA, Erode on 6th February 2020. Msg. Rev. Fr. John Joseph Stanis (V.G. &Vice President of CEEMA) formally launched the project.
- Mr. John Arokiaraj (Manager, Caritas India) along with Dr. Soundammal (D.D. Health,Erode),Dr. Velavan(M.D., Erode Cancer Centre), Dr. Ponmalar(ECC),
Dr. Janet(General Body member of CEEMA), Dr.Subathira (Radiologist, Breast Imaging Society of India), Mr. Bharathi (Founder, Selva Charitable Trust),Mr. Thomas V. John (Secretary, Red Cross Society, Erode) and Dr. Suresh (Medical officer, ECC) attended the program. A signature campaign was also arranged. - Nutrition supplements were distributed to twelve cancer patients.
- Nursing students, volunteers and women from self-help groups and other well-wishers of CEEMA had attended.
- The program was started with state anthem followed by welcome dance by students of St. Marie’s school. Then the chief gusts lighted the lamb. CEEMA director welcomed the chief guests and honored them.
- John Arokiaraj gave an overview of cancer situation in India and explained about the ‘EzhuvomIyakkam’ project. Dr. Velavan elaborated on spread cancer and the cancer status in Erode district. Other special invitees also spoke about different issues related to cancer and also emphasized the need to create more awareness among the people for early detection of cancer. Msgr. Rev. Fr. John Joseph Stains delivered the inaugural address.
After the sharing of the invitees, we had the formal launching of the project by releasing the IEC material.
- Participants took pledge on cancer
- Signature Campaign was also arranged.
The program came to an end with vote of thanks by Mr. NallaiyanPandi, coordinator of CEEMA followed by National Anthem.
“I Can, We Can” (Theme for World Cancer Day-2020)
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CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAMME
Place : PERUNDURAI & KANJI KOVIL
Date : 16.09.20 & 23.09.20
No of Participants: 65
EzhuvomIyakkam- Cancer Care Campaign:
Two awareness programmes were organized at Perundurai and Kanjikovil on 16.09.2020 and 23.09.2020. Sixty Five participants attended. Rev.Fr.S.Pushpanathan (director of CEEMA), and Mr.R.M.Subramanian gave talk on cancer and chemical contamination in food and its causative reason for cancer, importance of natural foods, types of cancer and its symptoms and treatment process, and importance of early diagnosis. The participants clarified their doubts regarding breast cancer.
Interface meeting
CEEMA conducted an interface meeting on 19th January 2021 at Janet Nursing Home, Erode in the presence of Dr. Janet. The meeting was organized to extend our collaboration with various medical experts. They assured their support to our activities in the following months.
Awareness programme
CEEMA organized an awareness programme on cancer at Olapalayam, Erode on 12th January 2021. Mr. V.P. Chellamuthu (director, VINOBHA NGO) was the resource person. 30 SHG members have participated. Fr. S. Pushpanathan briefly explained about cancer. Mr. V.P. Chellamuthu outlined how cancer spreads through junk food. He suggested cultivating vegetables in our kitchen garden will help us to have good vegetables.
TRAINING TO THE SELECTED VOLUNTEERS:
CEEMA conducted training programme for the volunteers and distributed ID card on 29.01.2020 a
t Gobi, Erode. Mr. Rozario (Erode Cancer Centre) was the resource person. Twenty five volunteers were trained on cancer and volunteerism. All were given volunteer identity cards.
Interface Meeting:
Two interface meetings were organized on 4.02.2021 and 11.02.2021 at Perumapalayam and Erode Cancer Centre. Dr. S. Shakira (BHMS – Homeopathy), Mr. Eswaran (Administration Officer – Erode Cancer Centre) were the resource persons. Fr. S. Pushpanathan (director, CEEMA) talked about the importance of this project. The coordinator also explained about cancer day planning and cancer screening camp. The participants assured to extend their support to our future activities. This interface meetings were helped us to conduct medical camps in our target regions.
Network Meeting:
We organized a network meeting with Santhana Homeopathy Hospital on 6.02.2021 at Erode. The participants were Dr. S. Shakira (BHMS -Homeopathy), Dr. V. Arul Suguna, Ms. Joyce Mary (health worker). Fr. Pushpanathan explained about CEEMA and our initiatives in cancer awareness programme in Erode District. Dr. S. Shakira also expressed their willingness to associate with our EZHUVOM IYAKKAM project.
Awareness Programme:
CEEMA conducted two awareness programme in Periyavettuvapalayam& Olapalayam on 8.02.2021 and 12.02.2021. The resource persons were Dr. S. Shakira (BHMS – Homeopathy) and Mr. V.P. Chellamuthu (Agri). The resource persons explained about cancer and its various stages. They explained that if detected at an early stage, cancer could be completely controlled. The participants also learnt about types of cancer, self-examination methods, symptoms, and treatment process.
Cancer Screening Camp:
CEEMA conducted cancer screening camp in collaboration with Santhana Homeopathy Clinic at Bharathi Nagar, Erode on 7th February 2021. The camp was inaugurated by Dr. S. Shakira (BHMS – Homeopathy) in the presence of Fr. Pushpanathan and Dr. V. Arul Suguna. About 70 SHG women participated in this camp.
MASS AWARENESS
Mass awareness program was organized during Women’s Day celebration on
08.03.2021.Dr.Subathra (Aadhars Scan Centre, Erode) was the resource person. 137 women participated. The doctor explained about cancer, types of cancer and self-examination methodsand alsodiscussed about breast cancer, testing method, treatment process, self-hygiene, and food habits.
Cancer Awareness Programme
CEEMA organizedan awareness programme on canceratPerunduraion 04.03.2021. 32women from various self-help groupshave participated. Mr.RM.Subramanian, (professor,Nandha Engineering College) was the resource person. He explained about breast and uterus cancer. During the programme, he talked about various cancer care centres in Erode and nearby areas.
Quarterly Coordination Meeting
The meeting organized from 10.03.2021 to 11.03.2021 at CMSSS, Coimbatore. Dr.John Arockiaraj (thematic manager, Dalit Rights & Development) and Mr. Sagayaraj (programme coordinator, Caritas India) facilitated the programme. CEEMA was represented by Mr.Jolly Abraham (project coordinator) and one volunteer. 63 coordinators and volunteers from different DSSS were the participants.
Interface Meeting
Two interface meetings were organized in Erode with Dr.Subathra on20.03.2021 and Dr. Janet on 05.3.2021. During the meeting, the participants discussed about cancer screening camps, government schemes for cancer and breast cancer awareness programme in the following months
Cancer Screening Camp
We organized a cancer screening camp on 17th April 2021 at CEEMA. The camp was inaugurated by Dr.DhanusriMaruthamani. About 64 SHG women and 20 children attended the camp. Two women were referred for further check-up.
Network Meeting
We had a network meeting with KVK, (Myrada, Gobi).The participants were
Fr.S.Pushpanathan, Dr. P. Alagesan (senior scientist & head), Dr. S. Saravanakumar (scientist AGRONOMY), Mr.Gnanasundaram (office assistant), Mr. John Prabakaran (program assistant, Agri. Eng.), Mrs. Selva (scientist, Home Science), and Mr. Thirumoorthy (farm manager).
QUARTERLY CO-ORDINATION MEETING:
The quarterly coordination meeting was held on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd September
2021 at USSS, Udhagamandalam. The training started at 10.30 am with prayer song by the USSS team. Fr. Suresh offered prayer. Dr. John Arockiaraj (state convener, CARITAS, Tamil Nadu) explained details of Caritas Cancer Campaign. Twenty Seven DSSS project coordinators and volunteers attended the meeting. CEEMA was represented by the point person and one volunteer.
TRAINING TO CORE COMMITTEE MEETING:
We conducted training to core committee members and volunteers on 01.09.2021 at CEEMA. Dr. Dhanusri Maruthamani (mouth cancer specialist), Fr. Pushpanathan, Fr. Arokiya Pradeep (advocate), Mr. Christopher (advocate), representatives of National Child Laborer Elimination Program were the resource persons. Teachers and volunteers attended the meeting.