About 10 years ago, a group of 20 persons met in a tiny room of Kozhikode Medical College and shared their difficulties and pains they had undergone as cancer patients.
In 2012, this group has grown into an organisation, Pratheeksha, spanning about 1,000 members from various parts of the State.
“It was survivors who took the initiative. Now, we are one of the most active groups in the State in the cancer awareness programme,” says one of the founders and oncologist Dr Narayanankutty Warrier.
“The patients at that time were depressed and needed motivation. Due to their treatment and pain, they wanted someone to narrate and share their difficulties and boost their confidence to pursue life,” he says.
Initially, the organisation aimed at increasing the patients’ confidence.
“However, as it grew we expanded our activities to counseling and awareness programmes. We also try to find sponsors for those who need financial assistance in treating cancer,” he says.
Many people going for alternative medicine because of the notion that cancer is incurable. “Through our awareness class, we educate people to take medicines and instill confidence in them that cancer is curable,” he says.
According to him, psychological help is as important as the medicines. “We came forward when there was nil support in Kerala for cancer patients. Even now, we are the only organisation that has a 24-hour counseling helpline,” he says.
