Head of the Department

Community oncology Department started functioning as a full-fledged department since 2010 January. In 2013, the department started functioning in a separate space with facilities for tobacco cessation clinic, facility for online public awareness, specimen museum, area for specimen mounting and area for storing IEC materials. Community Oncology Dept has been regularly conducting cancer awareness programs, volunteer training programs, health exhibitions, school-based tobacco awareness programs and community based health research in 6 districts namely Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kasaragod, Palakkad in Kerala, and Mahe in U T of Puducherry. The following are the routine departmental activities since its installation. 

1. Cancer awareness campaign: cancer awareness classes for the general public and health workers in cooperation with various organizations, residential groups, clubs, etc. 
2. Tobacco awareness campaign at schools: anti-tobacco awareness classes using audiovisual aids were conducted at different schools.
3. Exhibitions and observation of cancer-related health days: cancer and tobacco-related health exhibitions were organized at different public programs and schools. No tobacco day, cancer awareness day, etc. were observed with massive public programs.
4. Trainings and workshops: Training in tobacco control and cancer screening for health workers, volunteers, JPHNs, and nurses are regularly conducted.
5. Awareness generating public competitions: painting and literary competitions, online competitions were organized for school children and the general public on tobacco control and cancer prevention.
6. Quarterly newsletter NETHI on tobacco awareness for school children.
7. Publication of IEC materials for awareness generation.
8. Screening of short film for tobacco awareness “U-Turn “in schools and public programs.
9. Community participatory research activities.
10. Collaborative projects with community components initiated by various universities affiliated with MCC.

From 2011 to 2022, the department has conducted 1391 cancer screening camps, 662 cancer awareness programs, 175 school tobacco programs, 215 volunteer training programs and 137 health exhibitions along with regular Associate center (ECDC) visits. After 2020 owing to the restrictions imposed by the covid situation, the department continued awareness activities through online webinars and conducted 27 awareness webinars for the public and 3 for students in collaboration with KCCC and other organizations like IMA, Rotary club, Kudumbasree etc.

MCC has established Associate centres with facilities for early detection of cancer in various places in Kannur and Kasaragod district and conducts regular follow up visits to these centres.

1. PHC based ECDC clinics at Cherukunnu, Kuttiattoor, Keezhpally (Kannur Dist) and Cheruvathur and Thrikkaripur (Kasaragod Dist.)
2. NGO Based ECDC clinic-Alakkode, Nellikkampoyil (Kannur District) Chittarikkal (Kasargod District), and Thamarassery (Kozhikode District) under Thalassery Social Service Society (TSSS)

Anti-tobacco cell (2011)
The anti-tobacco cell was formed under the depton 31-10-11.  The cell consists of eminent personalities from different walks of life like teachers, Journalists, Social activists, writers, Janamythri police, etc. The main aim of the cell is to educate the student community on the menace posed by tobacco use. The Executive Committee of the cell comprises the following members, Dr. SatheesanB(Chairman), Dr. Ramachandran V (Joint Convener), Dr. NeethuA. P, Dr. PhinseM. Philip (Member conveners), and Major P Govindan, Dayanandan Master, ChalakkaraPurushu,Pradeep Master (Executive members).The cell is involved in all our anti-tobacco campaigns.

Tobacco cessation clinic (2011)
Tobacco cessation services were provided in the dental OPD in 2011.  In 2013, a dedicated tobacco cessation clinic was started in the community oncology department in 2013 after the department moved to separate space.  Tobacco cessation treatment is provided to those addicted to all forms of tobacco use. People identified at the camps were directed to the department OPD. Division also conducts various tobacco awareness programs for public and school children. Research on various aspects of tobacco use is also conducted in the division. Tobacco cessation OPD functions on all Wednesdays. 

Museum (2011)
The department prepares and maintains a museum of cancer inflicted organs which are also utilized in cancer awareness health exhibitions for awareness generation
Kannur District Cancer Control consortium (KCCC) (2021).

As a part of including socially committed individuals and organizations in the cancer control activities of MCC, we have formed the Kannur district cancer control consortium for cancer control activities. It is formed with an objective to work under the guidance and technical support of Malabar Cancer centre Thalassery to initiate and promote health care with community participation, create awareness about the prevention of cancer, eliminate fear and stigma about cancer, to spread the message about the curability of cancer and to provide rehabilitation to cancer survivors. KCCC was officially inaugurated on 4th February 2021 by the honourable Chief Minister of Kerala.

Early cancer detection clinic (2017)
MCC has initiated early cancer detection clinics led by trained nurses at various panchayaths (cherukunnu PHC at Kannapuram, keezhpally PHC at Aralam) in Kannur district and Kasaragod district (Cheruvathur CHC and NeeleswaramTaluk hospital). Early cancer detection clinics are also initiated in collaboration with NGOs and are functioning well (centers at Alakkode and Chittarikkal and Thomapuram and Nellikkampoyil in collaboration with Thalassery Social service society). Another center was started at Thamarassery in December 2021.