Observed Cancer Day with Interstate Migrants

KISMAT Kollam Migrant Help desk organized a medical camp and an Awareness class as a part of Cancer day at Chathannur

Reshma Raju (District Coordinator KISMAT, Kollam MHD) translates the inaugural address given by Excise Officer Mr. Sony J Soman at Chathannur

The Kollam Migrant Help Desk (Kerala Interstate Alliance for Transformation – KISMAT) Observed cancer day with Interstate migrants at the chathannur panchayat with total participants of 170 with the Collaboration of Caritas India, and Vimukti Mission Kollam.  A medical camp in collaboration with the Kerala Aids Control Society (KSACS) and an Awareness class on Cancer and AIDS occurred on this occasion.

The program was officially started with the welcome speech given by the district coordinator of KISMAT Kollam Miss. Reshma Raju followed by the inaugural address of Mr. Sony James, the Excise officer, and the representative from Vimukti mission Kollam.  He addressed the participants and told them about the initiative of the excise department to prevent drug abuse among people and the role of vikukthi in it.  The official function was concluded by the words of Mr.Shihabudhin one of the house owners of the migrants. He expressed his gratitude towards the team for putting this initiative and the inclusion of those migrants into the project KISMAT.

The medical camp and Awareness class were done as parallel sessions in which the KSACS team ensured the physical and mental health of the participants with check and interacting with them. The team was led by Dr. Nitheesh, from Munkkal Primary Health Centre, and Ragi the coordinator of KSACS.  

The KISMAT coordinator took a session on cancer- Treatment and Prevention as well as a supporting system like RCC. Many of the members curiously asked about the role of tobacco in Cancer and the remedies to reduce substance abuse among them, quoting self-control as the best prescription and displacing their interest drugs in into other recreational activities like sports. The program helped the interstate migrants to know about the government and nongovernment projects to support their welfare in the district as they were unaware of such projects. The community people in the area also contributed to the program by making efforts in the registration process and controlling the crowd during checkups. This program was the first initiative from a non-government organization for interstate migrants in the panchayat and was successful in reaching out to them effectively