Projects

Cancer camps, lake revival, self-defence, flood relief, organic homesteads, drinking water — the spectrum of Swasthi.

Cancer early detection

Snehathalam

Patented camps for breast, oral and cervical cancer. Phase 1 screened 9,842 women across 75 unbroken days.

Snehathalam aims at early detection and treatment of cancer. Camps are conducted close to areas of habitation and manned by some of the finest oncologists in the state, accompanied by awareness seminars. The initial drives targeted breast, oral and cervical cancer. The project aims at screening one hundred thousand people and providing necessary support and advice.

Phase 1 targeted breast cancer — a third of occurrences among women, and completely curable without surgical intervention if found early. It screened 9,842 women of whom 947 were referred to Swasthi Clinic. 53 mammograms were suspicious and 8 were diagnosed as positive. Kick-started by Her Highness Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi on 15 September 2015, it ran 75 days without a break and closed with a Thiruvathira of more than 1,000 women.

Phase 2 targeted oral cancer: 42 detection camps, screening 3,527 people, inaugurated 4 February 2016, with a marathon led by Olympian Anju Bobby George. Phase 3 combined breast and oral camps, inaugurated by Governor P. Sathasivam. Phase 4 aims at screening at least one hundred thousand people in a year-long programme. A registered patent for Snehathalam runs from 08/02/2017 for ten years. Brand ambassador and mascot: Ms Mamta Mohandas, in partnership with Malayala Manorama.

Wetland restoration

Revive Vellayani

A four-pronged restoration of Kerala’s second-largest freshwater lake, threatened by weeds, waste and lost migratory birds.

Vellayani Lake is a rich wetland that was once home to an abundance of flora and fauna — the second largest wetland and freshwater lake in Kerala. The lake is on the threshold of an untimely demise. A large percentage of the surface has been covered by weeds, some of foreign origin and unsuitable for this unique environment. The lake has already lost the visitation of a large number of migratory birds. This eco-impact will create a huge environmental deficit not only at the lake’s periphery, but of the entire district.

The plan of action: de-weeding; immediate prevention of dumping waste; involving the local populace; awareness campaigns in the locale and in schools; a well-documented photo and video biodiversity register; and creating sustainable lake-centric livelihoods so protection is owned locally. International conventions such as RAMSAR are to be invoked.

Weed growth and invasive alien species
Dumping of waste, including non-degradable items
Lack of awareness and sustained local interest
Absence of a reliable biodiversity register
No serious attempt to invoke RAMSAR and similar conventions

Visit revivevellayani.com

Healthcare mission

Swasthi Saukhya

A specialist task force — volunteer doctors running campaigns for cancer, tribal communities, flood survivors, police and fisherfolk.

Swasthi Saukhya is a specialty initiative launched to address inadequate healthcare, active over many years. It has gathered specialist doctors and run campaigns whose brand ambassador and mascot is Ms Mamta Mohandas. Under this banner sits the cancer drive Snehathalam, a patented partnership with Malayala Manorama.

The initiative has also run campaigns for differently abled children, people from the tribal belt, and those affected by the flood of 2018 and Cyclone Ockhi. Saukhya has taken on the health of the protectors of democracy — the Police Force — and special care packages for the brave fishermen who saved countless lives, and for auto-rickshaw drivers assisting patients at hospitals in Trivandrum.

The doctors who form the operational end of Saukhya have thriving practices of their own. The time they spend is completely free of monetary remuneration. They are the spearhead of every drive. Saukhya has become the backbone of Swasthi Foundation operations.

Women's self-defence

Snehajwala

Statewide martial-arts training for women and girls, covering the length and breadth of Kerala.

Snehajwala is a women’s self-defence programme organised by Swasthi Foundation in partnership with SAI (LNCPE), United Shito Ryu Karate Association, Metro Manorama, Manorama Weekly and Kerala University Union. It intends to train women and young girls in basic martial arts, enough to protect themselves, across the entire state.

Differently abled children

Snehajyothi

From Ekata18’s 10,000 children to monthly three-day camps of art, sport and healthcare.

Along with mission partners SAI-LNCPE, Santhigiri and CIMR, the Foundation started a programme to bring out the artistic and sporting talents in differently abled children. The Ekata18 Special Olympics was held from 11 to 14 January 2018 at Trivandrum, featuring more than 10,000 children from the length and breadth of the state.

The talents on display prompted Snehajyothi three-day camps, run on a monthly basis. Healthcare of these children was taken up by the Foundation. A special camp at Freedom Centre, Kovalam (8–12 August 2018) brought more than 65 children together — a framework for future programmes of its kind.

Care for those who protect

Rakshaka Raksha

Complete cancer and eye care for the Kerala Police Force and their families.

Swasthi Foundation has taken up the healthcare of members of the Police Force of Kerala under Rakshaka Raksha — complete cancer care for policemen and their families. Kaaval Kanninu Kaaval is the ophthalmology side of the same project.

Nithyaprakasham is the eye-care programme for the general public, run with the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Divya Prabha Eye Hospital. Rakshaka Raksha’s first phase was inaugurated on 1 November 2016 at Trivandrum, estimated to cover 14 districts.

Lifelong cover for fisherfolk

Snehasagaram

556 fishermen and families given lifelong medical cover after they rescued Kerala during the 2018 floods.

In August 2018, unprecedented rains flooded Kerala. Fishermen from Alappuzha, Kollam and Trivandrum took it upon themselves to save people stranded in their houses. Inflatable rafts of Fire and Rescue and the Navy could not reach many homes; sea-going fishing boats could. They risked life and limb. Those boats were their livelihood — a great many were damaged.

Swasthi Foundation and mission partners — Malayala Manorama Kollam, S N United Mission, QSSS, IMA Kollam District, Kerala Police Officers Association — with Divya Prabha Eye Hospital, Jyothidev Diabetes and Research Centre, Government Medical College Trivandrum, Sree Gokulam Medical College, GG Hospital, PMS Dental College, Government Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Dental College, set up Snehasagaram: complete and lifelong medical cover for the fishermen who took part, and their families.

The opening camp was held at Karmala Rani Training College, Kollam on 16/12/2018, inaugurated by Hon. Minister for Fisheries Smt. Mercikutty Amma, presided by Retd DGP Sri Jacob Punnoose. Over 40 doctors, 556 beneficiaries and families.

Mind and stress

Feel Good Clinic

A free clinic for stress, with Kerala Police, under psychiatrists Dr Mohan Roy and Dr Arun B Nair.

The single greatest deterrent to the mental and physical health of current generations is stress — not only among executives, but in children barely out of kindergarten.

Swasthi Foundation, with Kerala Police, initiated the Feel Good Clinic. A free clinic at the Foundation office is guided by psychiatrist Dr Mohan Roy and Dr Arun B Nair, under Dr Thomas Mathew. Announced on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2019, at Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, and launched on 1 November 2019 at Nanthancode with the lighting of the lamp by Dr Thomas Mathew, Principal of Trivandrum Medical College.

Environment

Sukhino Bhavanthu

A common platform across faith, ward and institution to protect what nature has bestowed.

Sukhino Bhavanthu is Swasthi’s drive to bring all sections of society to a common platform for protecting nature. Launched on 20/06/2018 with the City Corporation, Kerala Police, educational institutions, Forest and Agricultural Departments, churches, temples, mosques and residents’ associations. The pilot in Nandancode and Kuravankonam wards of Trivandrum Corporation was launched by HH Pooyam Thirunal Gowri Parvathi Bayi at Holy Angels ISC School.

Women & organic farms

Swasthya Shakthi

One lakh homestead farms — residences, yards and rooftops — as a wholly women’s initiative.

This project seeks to install at least one lakh homestead farms in the state at residences, backyards and rooftops, run by women as initiators, supervisors and promoters. It closes the disconnect between producers and end users.

Women are trained to produce seedlings from daily seeds and sprouts — part of the UKSATI project under the Nutri Forage banner — with support from Vanitha Magazine. Grow bags, potting mixture and seedlings are provided where needed. Training covers rooftop and vertical farms, kitchen-waste manure and bio-repellants, avoiding dangerous pesticides.

Youth development

Swasthi Shishya

Uncovering leadership, speech and social skill in academic toppers from Trivandrum schools.

Every young mind is a treasure trove of creativity. Academic excellence, while necessary, can build high fences between a child and their dreams. Kerala’s children often top academics yet finish as also-rans in competitive forums led by more assertive youth from other states.

Swasthi launches an overall development project for academic toppers from Trivandrum schools: interpersonal skill, communication, public speaking, leadership, management, social values, debate and group discussion — and personal attributes of positive attitude, self-confidence and even temperament.

Food literacy

Nutri Forage

A health-centric agri culture — chemically unadulterated food, indigenous seeds, a Green Army of youth.

Confined by the COVID-19 pandemic, a society reassessed its interaction with nature. Blossoms Kerala launched Nutri Forage with Kerala Police, Swasthi Foundation, Trivandrum City Corporation, Bar Council of Kerala, Chamber of Commerce, IMA Trivandrum and agricultural associations — grounded in food literacy and self-sufficiency.

Programmes include Down to Earth community farming, Farm Greens outlets, Diet Eats healthy eateries, Agri Help guidance, Save Seed for indigenous seeds, Tru Value addition, a Green Army of youth, and weekly bulletins. Governance is by a 40-member general body, with steering, administrative, advisory, quality, finance and review committees.

Drinking water

Thelineeraruvi

Cleaning the catchment of Aruvikkara Dam, prime drinking water for Thiruvananthapuram.

Built across the Karamana River, 15 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the dam of 1930 — first named after Lord Wellington, then Aruvikkara after the Durga Devi Temple — is the prime drinking-water supply for the city, and a tourism spot.

The catchment is in disuse: butchery waste, bottles, even human waste. People bathe and wash animals in the water. Thelineer Aruvi seeks to clean the city’s drinking-water source, increase catchment capacity, conduct a biodiversity study, and create awareness among the local populace.