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Our Projects
Our first priority is to provide chemotherapy to the needy patients with good prognosis. One needs courage to sit in a cancer OPD and experience the myriad emotions- empathy, helplessness and hope. Sahayta volunteers who are survivors or caregivers of survivors, attend clinics in 3 departments of PGI-Radiotherapy, Haematology, Advanced Paediatric Center and the Radiotherapy Department of GMCH-32.Our volunteers are available in these departments in PGI on Monday to Friday from 10 am till 11.30 am and on Monday in GMCH-32. Patients are provided medicines through our chemists. Oncology wards are also visited by our volunteers. With the main focus on emotional support to the patients and family members, hospital volunteers discuss and distribute printed information on cancer, its treatment and side effects, diet and exercises etc. On an average 5-10 patients and their families are counselled everyday providing the necessary courage to fight the disease. We cover patients from Punjab, Haryana, Jammu, UP, Bihar who throng PGI for treatment. Patients’ record is maintained in Sahayta Office.
Cancer Clinics
Vidya Jyoti Project
Sahayta realizes that education of children in cancer afflicted families receives a serious set-back during the critical time. We endeavour to sponsor the education of such children and also monitor their progress from time to time. Sahayta Vidya Jyoti Project started in 1999 provides for the education of two children of each Cancer afflicted family. Each school going student gets Rs.200 per month. Sahayta is proud to inform that many students who started their school education under Vidya Jyoti Project have now completed their college education, some from professional colleges. Heartening News is that the beneficiaries’ are around 120 and many girls and boys have got jobs also. During Covid times, Sahayta has been paying the fees to students through cheques or paytm.
Some of our Beneficiaries of Vidya Jyoti Project
Cancer Awareness Programs
Cancer like any other disease can be diagnosed and treated if detected at any early stage. Sahayta volunteers spread cancer awareness regarding symptoms,diagnostic tests and treatment of various types of cancer in schools, colleges, High Court, NCC, NSS camps, clubs, banks, factories, slums, colonies, gurudwaras and even kitty parties. Sahayta has tried to shatter many wrong notions about cancer through celebrations of Cancer Survivors Day, International Childhood Cancer Day, No Tobacco Day and Pink October.
With the co-operation of District Education Officer Chandigarh, we also conduct awareness programs in Tricity Schools, both private and government, to educate the students about the harmful effects of tobacco. These talks are also attended by staff members including School bus drivers, peons etc. Visual presentations are shown to sensitize the students about various aspects on tobacco and how to get rid of tobacco addiction at adolescent age.
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among urban women, but if India had a nation wide screening programmes,it could make all the difference.Awareness talks are given to women of all age groups and all walks of life.We emphasise on ‘Breast Self Exmaination’ so that patients come for the treatment as early as possible as early detection is the breast as well as best protection against cancer
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Mobile Mammography Van for Early Detection of Breast Cancer
On the birth anniversary of our founder President Neelu Tuli on 21 June 2009, Sahayta took the initiative of outsourcing Mobile Mammography Van from Roko Cancer, Delhi and organized 5 breast cancer screening camps. Overwhelmed by the response we repeated the exercise in March 2010. Sahayta also started facilitating mammography of groups of ladies in PGI and in 2012, Dr Khandelwal, HOD, Radiodiagnosis PGI started Asha Jyoti Van to take the diagnostics of Cancer to the door steps of ladies and Chandigarh administration also got mobile mammography Van which is based in GMCH Sector 32. Sahayta, participates in many health camps organized by Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association every year.
HPV Vaccination Programme
As a part of World Cancer Day celebrations and our commitment to expand our activites, Sahayta embarked on a new venture in 2021 that is to provide HPV vaccine for school going girls against cervical cancer in rural Haryana. Sahyayta joined hands with Rotary Club Mid Town Chandigarh under their project, Aastha, to achieve the objective of A World without Cervical Cancer. Under the guidance of Dr.Rita Kalra the programme kick started on 16th January,2021.Under this project, two doses of this vaccine after a gap of a few months are being administered to girls between the age of 12-16 years. In all Sahayta has donated more than 150 doses to Rotary worth Rs.3 lakh. We plan to donate more when the schools open.
The long-drawn treatment and pain undergone by a patient generally makes him/her a victim of psychological trauma.At times the disease leads to chaos,confusion and fear in the entire family and the problem becomes multifold. Sahayta ventured into Home Counselling through the good offices of our Volunteer Nirmala Chaudhary, a trained psychologist
to give the patient emotional support by addressing the social,emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families.Counselling is an essential part of holistic care of patients and their families by means of heart to heart talk.This service can be provided at various phases of the disease and follow ups in terms of feedback of the family members are continued till required.
Home Counselling
Mastectomy Bras and Prosthesis
In 1998, Sahayta started procuring Mastectomy bras and Prosthesis from Delhi for breast cancer patients. Earlier these bras were available at the PGI Sahayta desk, but now these can be bought from Durga Medicos, Sector 11,Chandigarh.These bras are sold at no profit-no loss basis.
Sahayta Bal Cancer Sahyog
In July 1999,Bal Cancer Sahyog was started in APC in order to provide financial as well as emotional assistance to families of childhood cancer patients,our volunteers are available every Friday OPD. The same year, through good offices of Dr.R.K. Marwaha, Sahayta became associate member of ICCCPO, International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parents Organisation
Started in the year 2000, to facilitate informal interaction between the parents and the doctors. OPD days are very special even for volunteers because a special bond is established between the volunteers and the patients. Sometimes children's reactions touch our hearts. We celebrate festivals with children to bring smiles to their faces.We also hold many workshops from time to time in children's wards
(i) Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog
Sahayta has setup a toy bank in Advanced Paediatric Center, PGI. The room is well equipped with board games, toys, books, stationery, cars etc. We have tried to make the Hospital visits interesting for children so that they should have fun time with Toys and Games. The children coming to OPDs look forward to see the Sahayta Volunteers every Friday
The play room at Sahayta Cancer Kendra was inaugurated by then Lady Governor Mrs Jean Rodrigues on 20th March,2006.The play room has been setup keeping in mind the children who have to stay in PGI Sarai,while on treatment.Families can visit the center and children can keep themselves busy with toys and books
(ii) Toy Bank
In 2014 Mr Mukul Dev Dayal of Kamla Foundation started giving nutrition supplements to children undergoing chemotherapy .Dietary supplements like Theraptin, Bournvita, ProtienX, Pediasure, Pro Sure, Isomil, Aminovan etc are distributed by a dietician to the patients depending on their dietary needs. Sahayta volunteers and affice are in constant touch with our dieticians for the procurement and distribution of these supplements. Our donors have been instrumental in financing the project. The monthly budget is around 20 thousand rupees.
(iii) Nutrition Supplements
In Montreal in the year 1999,Aaradhna Mittal represented Sahayta, the first support group to represent India in ICCCPO. In 2001,Renu Saigal accompanied by Swatantar attended the first ever Survivors’ Meet in Luxemburg. First International Childhood Day was celebrated with ICCCPO on 15th January,2002. ICCCPO is now named as Childhood Cancer International(CCI).
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Funds are a basic necessity for projects of Holistic Help for patients and we are grateful to the people of Tricity for reposing faith in us. Our volunteers work hard to collect maximum funds from city schools, industrial establishments and from their network of friends and families. Many elite schools never fail to support us in raising funds through fund raising stalls for the poor and needy patients. The support provided by all the schools, staff and principals is praiseworthy. Many student support groups like Back to Life Foundation, Spend for a Cause Foundation have been great fun raisers for Sahayta over many years. Donation boxes at important places also generate funds for Sahayta. Donations to the society are exempt under 80G since 2000 and in 2002,our Society was registered under Foreign Contribution Act. We wish that our network of donors and supporters grows by leaps and bounds in the years to come.
(iv) ICCCPO
Fund Raising
The inaugural monthly get-together was launched on 26th April 2003 at Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh. Group of survivors come together every third Saturday of the month for a contributory lunch.The lunchon meeting provides an opportunity to enjoy lighter moments,positive attitude,mutual bonding and exchange newly acquired information from various sources.
Survivors’ Club
Sahayta Awaas Yojna
Sahayta inaugurated this project in September 2019.Families travel from far off and are expected to stay for long durations to complete the treatment. Most of them are unable to bear the expenses involved in boarding and lodging. Through this project Sahayta reimburses the stay expenses to the families during their stay in Chandigarh to avail treatment at PGI. The monthly expenditure is nearly Rs.20,000.
Our project for stay, Sahayta Awas Project, expanded as safe and sanitized environment was the need of the hour. And since travel restrictions were plenty,a lot of our patients needed to be housed for longer periods. Sahayta introduced a for families to Travel Support programe by taxi or in an ambulance, as it was not possible for the immune depressed patients to travel by public transport during covid time. It is an ongoing project.
Ration to Hospice
Sahayta has been taking care of ration and some basic needs of Hospice Center, Sector-43,Chandigarh since the year 2007.The expenditure is around Rs.10,000-Rs.15,000 almost every month.
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