Cancer is a medical abnormality whereby mutated (cancerous) cells grow uncontrollably in the body of individuals leading to failure of normal body function. These cancerous cells obstruct the activity of the tumour suppressor genes in DNA repair and cell cycle control and If not treated urgently, these can metastasize (spread) to other body parts/organs and lead to shut down of the body (death). Hence cancer is a disease that requires the joint effort of both the private and public sectors if it is to be eradicated. The 2020 Report of the National Cancer Registry Program under the auspices of the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research of the Indian council stipulates that Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 71% of total deaths globally. However, in India, NCDs accounted for about 63% of deaths and cancer, heart and kidney failures are the leading causes of these deaths to date.
Organs like the lungs, stomach, thyroid and prostate glands were the most common cancer sites while among the females; the breast, cervix and ovary were the most common sites. Statistics showed that 47.6% of the local population of females and 44% of that of males in Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra were diagnosed with cancer. Creating awareness, preventing risk factors and improving access to appropriate health care among the populace would result in the better management and downstage of cancer. Hence the mission of the Mother Teresa Memorial Social Welfare Trust Patient Health Care Outreach Program is to provide access to adequate healthcare and health education to less privileged individuals with Maladies.
A Multidisciplinary approach to cancer and other chronic diseases ranging from awareness programs, preventive measures, screening programs for early detection and availability of treatment facilities is imperative for reducing the incidence of diseases and resulting mortality in India. However, the issues of inadequate primary health care infrastructure and the burden of health expenses on the annual income of families impede this approach. According to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888, providing primary health care is an obligatory duty of the Corporations Of Mumbai but this duty has been hindered by the depressing economy of the Nation especially due to the increasing population, high rate of unemployment, illiteracy and increasing cases of covid-19 and other communicable diseases like Tuberculosis despite being the richest city government in the country.
Our Patient Healthcare Outreach Program discovered that 76% of households do not have any medical insurance and the remaining 24% per cent of households (mainly the middle-class families) medical insurance only covers hospitalization costs in select diseases/ailments such as fever and malaria. Occurrence of Chronic ailments like heart diseases, kidney disease, HIV, Covid-19, liver and lung cancers were found in 65% of the residents of the Mumbai slums caused by intake of carcinogens (tobacco), decreased metabolism due to ageing and lack of education about the genetics of these diseases. As the leading Health Care Support NGO in Mumbai Slums, we help by funding surgeries and treatment therapies, providing proper education about preventive measures and genetic counsel for these diseases through our partnerships with several credible and competent hospitals and organizations. So far we have been able to assist 150 patients between December 2021 to January 13, 2022 Nevertheless, there is still more work to be done. We need the cooperation and assistance of both the Public and Private Sectors in providing funds for treatments of the sickened underprivileged residents of the Mumbai slum as we cannot do this without your support. We are also open to Volunteer applications to drive our mission forward as the fruit of love is service.
To donate funds, therapy machines and today please contact the Mother Teresa Trust Shop no 1, Tandel House Cemetery Road, Chunnabati.
Phone Number: (+91) 9769737759
Bank Account:
ICICI – 623901263163,
Chembur Branch,
IFSC – ICIC0006239,
gpay- 9769737759.