Clearing apprehensions, myths about the dreaded ‘C’

In 2012, a group of women, led by German born, Bengaluru-based artist Shadi Ganz got together to start Mammomobile, to reach out to women living in rural India. Their focus was to build a Mammo Mobile Screening Bus, called Vanakkam Amma - a state of the art vehicle equipped with screening apparatus for cancers of the breast, cervix, lung and mouth, with digital mammography, 3D ultrasound screening, PAP smears and basic treatment methods. The cheerful, bright pink vehicle will make its way through the villages of South India, providing screenings for women and free treatment through city hospitals. Those who are diagnosed will be brought back to the associated hospital and given free treatment.

Shadi, fashion designer Michelle Salins and social activist Nalini Nanjundiah came together to form Mammomobilie. “We have all either survived cancer ourselves or watched a close relative battle the disease,” said Nanjundiah. “We fundraise through art and fashion for a cause, because the cost of each Mammo Mobile is Rs 1 crore, which includes the payment of fully trained nurses, doctors and a radiologist who will travel to the villages,” she explained. “Since the investment in art is growing, we decided to use that as our main medium of fundraising. Also, Shadi is an artist herself.”

Awareness and prevention are the main focus of the organisation. “Cancer is very treatable if it is diagnosed in time,” said Nanjundiah. “The problem is that most women in rural India are so afraid that they ignore the symptoms and don’t really come to terms with it until it is too late. If you are aware of the disease and can prevent it, half the battle is already won.”

Their first collaboration is with the WIA Cancer Institute in Chennai. “The chassis of the first mobile is ready and should be up and running by the end of the year,” said Nanjundiah. Fundraising is taking place mainly through corporates, who have been very cooperative so far. “The project is an expensive one and we do hope to put out atleast one mammomobile every year,” she said.

However, simply spreading awareness about the dreaded disease won’t work among the rural population. “If they know we’re talking about cancer, they just won’t show up,” she said. To combat this, Mammomobile will offer a range of services, including teaching people how to open bank accounts and providing general awareness on health and hygiene. “We have tied up with various banks as well, to help them open accounts,” she said.

The philosophy, however, is to remove the notion of cancer as dreary and full of despair. “We want to help people believe that it can be fought, that there is no need to give up hope,” Nanjundiah explained. “We want to keep the whole thing very cheerful,” she added.

Nanjundiah’s association with Mammomobile is through her own organisation, the LS Nanjundiah Trust, which also deals with healthcare in rural areas. “We are making a film on cancer, which will be screened in all the buses,” she said.

The deal is that the hospital will provide free treatment in exchange for the bus – all expenses, including the cost of the bus and the personnel on it will be borne by the foundation.

Prominent artists came together on Saturday to do their bit as well. Gurudas Shenoy, G Subramanian, Shirley Matthews and Shadi Ganz all contributed their paintings. “We also had works by masters such as Ramkumar and M.F. Hussain,” said Nanjundiah. “Sixty per cent of the money earned goes to the artist, while the rest goes to the foundation,” she added. It’s a tall order, to be sure, but that hasn’t deterred these women. “We want to have at least seven mammomobiles out on the road over the next few years,” she said.