Cochin Cancer Society
Creating an ecosystem of support and awarness on prevention and treatment of cancer across Kerala, India
To support poorer sections of society impacted by cancer, to educate the public about cancer The Cochin Cancer Society (CCS) is a charitable society that was started in 2004. This was the brainchild of a few like minded people who joined hands to help poor patients.
CCS works on the health issue of cancer in Kerala through multiple fronts of the ecosystem:
They provide free homestay facility with food and transport for needy patients and their caregivers who come from far off places.
The society supports financially needy patients by giving a grant to support their treatment cost.
They conduct public awareness programs through talks and seminars on cancer education in schools, colleges, and other public forums.
They conduct early detection camps through mobile Thermomammograms to screen for breast cancer among women.
CCS does pre- and post-treatment counselling services for patients and caregivers.
The society has also initiated programs like Kalikkootam and Communion which enable children and adults affected by cancer to gain confidence by sharing success stories of their fight against cancer.During the financial year 2018-19, Cochin Cancer Society did 2700 scans across Palakkad, Malappuram, Trichur, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts of Kerala. About 21 women were saved by early detection and treatment of cancer, while the testing was really helpful in ascertaining whether there was a breast cancer development or an ovary cyst in many others.
After discussions with the leadership of CCS, Go2C got involved in serving their mission to reach out to women across Kerala and provide screening facility for them for breast cancer through Mobile Mammogram Units with the requisite facilities. Go2C facilitated provisioning of the recurring expenses of drivers who would man the two Mobile Mammogram Units (MMUs). The MMUs have since toured across several districts in Kerala and have conducted awareness and screening camps for women and patients, helping further the fight against breast cancer. We have helped facilitate the payment of INR 20,000 per month towards the salary of each ambulance driver of CCS . The has helped sustainably continue the initiative.