Making Big Impacts,
one step at a time
Committed to protecting
the health of rural women
The main challenge in protecting the health of rural women is awareness. Being unaware of basic hygiene, social stigma and lack of facilities make them compromise their health. They lack a clear understanding of the diseases that affect women's health which often begin with unhygienic conditions. Breast Cancer, cervical cancer and various menstrual problems are leading causes of their ill health and maybe death in worst cases.
Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in India. 25% of all global deaths due to cervical cancer happens in India. Effective screening and access to timely treatment are the biggest challenges. According to researchers, the survival rate may increase if the treatment starts in the early stages of infection.
Women in rural India is not having the freedom to talk about such issues. They are unaware and neglected, left to suffer a painful death. Sahaya Hastha is standing with these women to make them aware of their health problems.
Team Sahaya Hastha visits every village to create awareness about the symptoms, cure, and importance of screening and treatment. We guide them on the importance of nutrition and hygiene to stay healthy and strong. Also, organise medical camps to assist in every possible way. We get close to these women, talk to them, raise their confidence, and make them understand their health issues. Understanding the problem, they get ready to go for screening and hence can avail of timely treatment in case of infections.
Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer amounts to 14% of cancers among other cancers in Indian women. Research says every 4 minutes, a case of breast cancer is reported in India.
Survival of the patient becomes challenging in higher stages of cancer. Also, the post-cancer survival rate is very low in India. Unfortunately, patients report only in the 3rd and 4th stages, making it challenging for the medical team.
Women can self-examine their symptoms and know of the presence of lumps or masses that may lead to cancer. The main reason for the low survival rate for breast cancer patients is a lack of awareness and poor early screening and diagnosis rates.
Team Sahaya Hastha is working on increasing the awareness among the rural women and encouraging them to go for prescreening and diagnosis even with the slightest symptoms. By organising camps to encourage women to understand the importance of their health and fight against breast cancer.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is the most common cancer in India amongst men (11.28% of all cancers), and the fifth most among women (4.3% of all cancers). When diagnosed early, the 5-year survival rate is above 80 and less than 20-30% in advanced cases.
Many causes may lead to oral cancer. Not only tobacco and alcohol but poor maintenance of oral health and genetic issues are also major reasons for cancer.
Sahaya Hastha is spreading awareness among the villagers by educating them on the preventive measures by maintaining good oral health and staying away from tobacco and alcohol. We are also distributing the oral hygiene kit to help them.
Tobacco and alcohol are addictive, making it hard to give up if someone is addicted. We help by raising awareness of its impacts on health and family. Knowing the importance of food, exercise and hygiene and our support is changing their lives. We stand with all these people to help and assist in their way of happy and healthy life.
Covid -19
Karnataka was the first one in India to confirm the first Covid-19 case. And, soon this impacted the lives of everyone with the commencement of the lockdown. The primary victims were the daily wagers, migrants and socially deprived communities as they were deprived of food and were homeless. Unable to travel back to their homes and get some relief from the situation, they were suffering alone.
Sahaya Hastha took the initiative to provide relief to people in this situation
- UNICEF kits, including nutrition kits, hygiene kits, energy bars and fortified milk powder, were distributed to pregnant and lactating mothers, especially from the immigrant community, as they are the most compromised in terms of health and immunity.
- Educated pregnant women and mothers with babies under 7 months on preventive measures from covid-19.
- Procured 3 tonnes of vegetables every week, directly from the farmers and distributed among the needy communities.
- 3000 personal hygiene kits were distributed to the migrants.
- 2750 meals per day were distributed, among the migrant communities in the remote areas of Bangalore.
- Facilitated the migrants to reach back to their homes through trains by getting them registered on Seva Sindhu.
- Distributed first-line treatment and medicine kits to the needy Covid positive patients.
- Along with 120 citizen volunteers, team Sahayahastha launched a helpline to help more than 3000 Covid patients for getting medicines at their doorstep.
- Helped Covid care center at Doddaballapur Taluk, Isthur by arranging an ambulance and logistics.
Food & Nutrition
Unstable or low income makes the families suffer for basic needs. It is hard for them to arrange three-course meals a day. Arranging medicine in case of illness is a far off dream to them.Food is crucial for human survival. Knowing what to eat is essential for a disease-free body.Villagers are unaware of the importance of nutrition for their health. Old and pregnant/feeding mothers are mainly suffering because of bad nutrition as they depend on the availability of resources for arranging the food.
Team Sahaya Hastha teaches them the importance of nutrition for their health. The diet of pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers also impacts the health of a child. Knowing what is important and must be included in the food to be in a good health is explained to them. We provide them with ration kits to help in balancing the missing nutrients in their daily diets
Treatment can never be successful only with the medicines. Nutrition plays an important role in the proper recovery of the patients. Understanding the importance of nutrition for people under-recovery from cancer, pregnancy or any health issue, we provide the Nutrition Kit at their door steps.
