Kozhikode, February 10, 2017: The Kerala Police and Swasthi Foundation in association with Aster MIMS, the leading tertiary care hospital in Kozhikode, today launched Rakshaka Raksha, a series of free Cancer and Lifestyle diseases screening camps for the state police force. The programme was inaugurated, with the lighting of a lamp by Sri. Stephen Devassy, Brand Ambassador, Swasthi Foundation. Dr Rahul Menon, CEO, Aster MIMS, Mr U Basheer, Executive Director, Aster MIMS and Dr K Karthikeya Varma, CMS- Aster DM Healthcare, Sri.Gopinath IPS (Retd), Trustee, Swasthi Foundation and other dignitaries and invitees were present at the function.
A medical team from Aster MIMS with cancer specialists will be screening and conducting check-ups among the police personnel in the districts of Kasargode, Kannur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode. The first camp in the Rakshaka Raksha series was held today at aster MIMS hospital, where 150 registered police personnels and their family members were screened for cancer.
Dr. Rahul Menon, CEO, Aster MIMS said, “Our police force work irregular hours in extremely stressful conditions, because the demands of their job is such. The pressure of maintaining law and order puts them at risk for various lifestyle related diseases like high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, as well as psychological issues. Due to stress and other factors, they also face an increased risk of cancer. It is essential for the police personnel to have regular check-ups so that any health problem can be diagnosed early for successful treatment.”
A recent report published by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BRPD) and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) indicates that a majority of police personnel work for more than eight hours a day and over 70% do not get a weekly off even once a month. In addition, police personnel are often called into work on holidays for emergencies.
Sri. Stephen Devassy, Brand Ambassador, Swasthi Foundation said, “I have had personal experiences with Cancer, having lost a closest member of my family to it. It was hard to believe that someone as study as him would succumb to a disease and leave us so soon. The disease, often undetected, is claiming many lives and it is this that we must try and stop. In the case of many patients, early detection would have helped and that is where organizations like Aster MIMS and Swasthi Foundation comes into play.”
Sri.Gopinath IPS (Retd), Trustee, Swasthi Foundation, “Duty comes first for the police personnel, and in pursuit of their responsibility they tend to ignore their health. The police personnel are more likely to suffer numerous health complications than are members of the general workforce. Due to paucity of time, their family’s health also tends to be overlooked. This is the reason we are working with Aster MIMS and the Kerala Police to organise these camps for the police personnel and their families.”
Swasthi Foundation started providing free cancer screening camps in November 2016 in Trivandrum City and Alappuzha with several benevolent organizations. Now with the involvement of Aster MIMS, these camps will be extended to all police districts in Malabar as well. In the first phase, the camps will be held till 31st march 2017.
An awareness talk on this subject was conducted by Prof. Dr Babu Mathew (Rtd) HOD, RCC, Trivandrum and Dr Saleem VP, Consultant Onco Surgeon, Aster MIMS. Mr U Basheer, Executive Director, Dr Hamza P, Chief of Medical Services, Dr Sathish Padmanabhan, Consultant Radiation Oncologist and Dr Sreelesh KP, Consultant Medical Oncologist from Aster MIMS along with Dr. K.G. Alexander, Advisory Board Member, Swasthi Saukhya, Sri. T.C. Mathew, Trustee, Swasthi Foundation, Sri. Abey George, Secretary, Swasthi Foundation, Dr G.L. Muraleedharan, Trustee, Swasthi Foundation, Smt. Manju Pillai, Trustee Swasthi Foundation, Smt. Dimple Mohan, Trustee Swasthi Foundation, Sri PK Rateesh, Joint Secretary, Kerala Police Association, Mr Balakrishnan, Secreatry KPOA, Kozhikode also participated in the event.
