Thiruvananthapuram: Asraya caters to most needs of patients at Regional Cancer Center

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shani Mol, widow and mother of a 12-year-old lukaemia patient, shuttles between Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode every other week. While managing her work at a local anganwadi, she could not have found options to feed her child had NGOs like Asraya not been active at RCC. On Tuesday, Asraya, a charitable organisation doing service at the RCC, celebrated its 20th anniversary. The charitable organisation provides monetary, physical and moral support to the cancer patients of RCC.

Every day they prepare gruel and porridge for palliative patients and assist them through painful procedures at the cancer clinic. From its humble beginnings with just around a dozen members, Asraya has turned into charitable organisation of 350 women volunteers. “Gruel is an important food recommended for chemotherapy patients. Everyday around a dozen workers distribute it to patients here. Those coming from far off places can have it with confidence as our organisation prepares it with love,” a worker of Asraya said.

Governor P Sathasivam who inaugurated the anniversary celebration said more voluntary organisations and NGOs like Asraya should contribute generously to the holistic growth of the health sector. Health minister K K Shylaja declared that 105 posts of oncologists would be created in Medical Colleges in Kerala over the next few years. RCC director Dr Paul Sebastain, RCC medical superintendent Dr K Ramadas, Asraya patron J Lalithambika, president Santha Jose and dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi were present.