From 2016 - 2017, with the help of partners Shillong Cafe and Dylan's Cafe, Aaroogya spread breast cancer awareness and serviced 3 districts in the Indian state of Meghalaya: East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills.
One of Aaroogya's target for this campaign was the village of Mawlynnong in the East Khasi hills, whose population boasted a 100% literacy rate in 2019 compared to the national average of 77.7% in 2020, and whose waste management systems have earned it Discover India’s “cleanest village in India award” two times. While Mawlynnong's social structures have been known to progressively accommodate women citizens’ freedom and economic flourishing, Aaroogya’s preventative screenings and interactive educational consultations were well needed, contributing much to the health of the village's women. Regina, a 19 year old local woman responds to Aaroogya’s educational, preventative efforts, saying, “Aaroogya brought me a new ray of life to live with the spirit of self care.”
Aaroogya’s services in Meghalaya included workshops and capacity building sessions, digital health data collections and analytical analyses, real time tele-consultations, clinical screenings, chair-side diagnostic tests and triaging, breast self-examination informationals, and the mobilization of higher risk patients to partner hospitals.
Due to Aaroogya's efforts, 4000 women over the age of 15 gained an understanding of the grave issues around their general health conditions, nutrition, sanitation, and awareness & breast self-examination training. Additionally, 8 participating researchers and Public Health doctors learnt from young people about how these problems affect their lives. Aaroogya’s strategic and holistic cancer prevention program empowered women and men of all ages in Meghalaya to avoid not only late stage cancerous growth, but other more minor diseases, by educating these populations on how to live more healthy lifestyles.
Sources:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/international-literacy-day-2020-kerala-most-literate-state-in-india-check-rank-wise-list/story-IodNVGgy5hc7PjEXUBKnIO.html#:~:text=International%20Literacy%20Day%202020%3A%20The,recorded%20the%20lowest%20literacy%20rate.
