CanSupport Observes National Cancer Day

Palliative Cancer Care Organisation Uses Street Theatre Festival
To Increase Awareness

New Delhi, November 8, 2012: CanSupport, a pioneer in the field of palliative care that runs the largest home-care programme for people with cancer in India, achieved another significant milestone by organising a program aimed at raising awareness about cancer among lesser-informed segment of society. Innovatively built around a series of street theatre events, the program “Jago Aur Jagao” reached out to areas covering the urban poor population of about 50,000 living in slums in Delhi.

Begun in June 2012, the campaign saw students from different colleges and drama schools conducting a series of street plays under the guidance of eminent theatre personality Arvind Gaur and his Asmita troupe, in various “bastis” across Delhi to communicate a social message and act as attraction points to collect basti residents for screening camps. Medical experts comprising doctors and nurses from AIIMS and the Fortis Group of Hospitals carried out the screenings and providedcounseling and training on self-breast examination for women of the localities as well as community health volunteers, Mahila Mandals, Pradhaans and Anganwadi workers.

The campaign culminated on National Cancer Day, November 7, with a performance by Asmita Theatre Group depicting risk factors and preventive measures, myths and misconceptions and early diagnosis of various cancers afflicting men and women. The performance was followed by an interactive session with Dr. Vineet Gupta, Principal Consultant, Medical Oncologist & Hematologist at Max Specialty Hospital on “General Cancers & their Prevention”. A short film on breast cancer in Hindi, produced by the Forum for Breast Cancer Protection, Col. Pant’s Imaging Center and Indrapastha Apollo Hospitals was screened on the occasion.

The CanSupport “Jaago aur Jagaao” witnessed eleven camps held in eight bastis, resulting in 550 registrations for screening and self-breast examination trainings while mobile vans provided 137 women with mammography scans. Those detected positive in their mammograms will get free treatment at Max Healthcare Hospitals.

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About CanSupport:

CanSupport is a not-for-profit registered society that has since 1997 delivered palliative care, free of charge, to thousands of people battling cancer in Delhi and its neighborhood. Its pioneering home care service, delivered by a team of professionals trained in palliative care, is recognized worldwide and has brought much needed medical, nursing and emotional support to the doorstep of people battling with the advanced stages of cancer. The focus is on the underserved and the less privileged which is why CanSupport depends on donations and the goodwill of the public to sustain its programmes which are all offered free of charge. CanSupport also has a telephone helpline, a Day Care, peer support groups and counseling services. It is at the forefront of training medical professionals, nurses, counselors and caregivers in Delhi and the region. Besides the annual Foundation Course in Palliative Care it runs certificate courses in palliative medicine, nursing and counseling. For more details about CanSupport, please visit www.cansupport.org. You may also call the confidential CanSupport helpline for cancer related information, referrals and an empathetic listening ear: 011-2671-1212 (Monday-Friday, 9.30am – 5.30pm).

For further information, contact:

CanSupport
Puja Shankar - 9312596416
/ MelCole Public Relations
Sakshi Aggarwal - 9716971986

Anas Mehmood - 9873100509