Author: akkarafoundation

Akkara foundation implemented Operation Smile Project in Kasaragod District of Kerala and South Karnataka, for those who are born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Operation Smile has provided hundred thousands of safe surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate. Operation smile create solutions that deliver free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to people where it is needed most and it stood as an advocate towards equity in access to health systems, pioneering solutions that have brought safe and effective surgery to the patients. Around twenty two patients got selected for surgery, from kasaragod and south part of Karnataka. For the project, first task was to identify the patients with cleft condition from different parts of kasaragod district and south Karnataka. Project coordinator, Akkara foundation Project Coordinator and four internship students from Sree Sankaracharya University, Kalady, lead the project and decided to mobilize the patients from Kasargod district through stake holder’s visit to major government and private hospitals, Government institutions, Primary Schools, Government offices, Anganwadies, Community workers, Community leaders, Non-Governmental organization and online promotion. Project team first created posters and flex in both Malayalam and Kannada languages and created five videos regarding awareness about cleft conditions, treatments for cleft condition and operation smile. For field publicity, first we divided the whole district into major towns such as Trikaripur, Cheruvathur, Nileswaram, Kanhagad, Bekkal, Vellarikkund, Delampady, Uppala, Kumbala, Manjeswaram and in Karnataka we planned to visit Manglore, Puthur, Sullia and Kodagu. Field visit started on 2^nd July, from Trikaripur where we covered Party offices, schools, anganwadi, FHC,  Arts & Sports Clubs, Kudumbhasree units, Houses and Shops. In cheruvathur we visited Family Health Centre, Cheruvathur, Unity Hospital, Cheruvathur, Party offices, anganwadi, FHC,  Arts & Sports Clubs, Kudumbhasree units, Houses and Shops in Cheemeni, Pothamkandam, Kalikkadav, Olavara, Madakkal, Udumbuthala, Idayilakkad, Mattammal, and shared posters and brochures. During nileswaram visit we covered ICDS Project Office, Nileshwar. Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Nileshwar. Tejaswini Hospital, Nileshwar. NKBM Hospital, Nileshwar. Party Offices visited and shared our Poster. Dr. Sureshan and Dr. Mini ( Pediatricians ) in Nileshwar town. Also visited Shops, ENT Clinic, Rations shops, 2 Houses and Auto & Taxi stands in Nileshwar town, Arayi-Karthika(place), Vazhunnoradi, Puthukkai and Panathady. In kanhagad project team visited District Govt Hospital, Kanhagad. Sunrise Hospital, Kanhagad. CDPO Kanhagad Office. Pediatricians in Kanhagad. Different Political Party Offices in Kanhagad. Shops, Anganwadis and Home visits. In kasaragod town team visited Malik Dinar Hospital, Thalangara, United Care Hospital, Kasargod, Care Well Hospital, Kasargod, Janardhan Hospital, Kasargod, Aramana Hospital, Kasargod and Pediatrician Dr. Muhammad Musthafa. During Delampady visit team covered Ghalimukha, Pandi, Banari, Kumbadaje, Badiadka and shared our poster & flex in malayalam and kannada. As part of north side of kasaragod, team visited Anganawadis, Shops, Ration shops, School, Taxi stands, in Manjeswaram, Uppala, Kumbala, Seethangoli, Madhur, Kadamba, Thalapady and shared our poster and flex ( both malayalam and kannada ). And in south Karnataka part, team covered Jalsoor, Adkaar, Paichaar, Sullia, Peraje, Arranthod, Sullia, Ajjavara Mandekolu, puthur, Kodagu District of Karnataka, Virajpett amd other rural areas of Kodagu. Visited Government Hospital, Schools, Anganawadis, shops, Kodagu Municipality Office, met Asha workers and shared our poster and flex. After fifteen day’s field publicity, project team conducted Initial Screening Camp at Akkara Foundation – Kottoor on 18/07/2023 – Tuesday (22 patients registered), CH Centre – Trikaripur on 19/07/2023 (5 patients registered) – Wednesday, Panchayat Hall – Mangalpady on 20/07/2023 – Thursday (3 patients registered)and Ansarul Musleemin Association Hall – Sullia, Karnataka on 25/07/2023 – Tuesday (5 patients registered). Mr. Samuel, Coordinator Operation Smile Project, tested the patients in each camp. Twenty-two patients were selected for surgery, out of thirty-five participants who registered in four camps. After all camps coordinator created whatsapp group for selected patients to share travel details, treatment plans and other facilities arranged by smile team. Surgery was planned to conduct at Ernakulam Kinder Hospitals. On 28^th July two coordinators of Akkara Foundation arranged train journey from Kasaragod railway station to Aluva, with twenty two passangers and their fourty three bystanders. Smile project team arranged stay for patients and bystanders in an auditorium at Aluva. The smile tad informed Akkara foundation that the surgery for the patients would be within six days from 30^th July.

Akkara Foundations new office room got inaugurated by Mr. Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrim on 5/7/2023 in the presence of clients and staffs.

Akkara Foundation celebrated Eid  with the Akkara family members  on 27/6/2023 at the open hall at the centre .Children ,their parents ,staffs and community members around 250 members gathered together at the centre and  celebrated the Eid together, various on stage and off stage programs like biryani making ,reels competiion,fashion show,Mehandi fest  and Mappila pattu for children and parents .In the afternoon all gathered together and enjoyed the cultural programs and had lunch At the end SONG BOYS team performed their mashup and the prizes for the games /programs were handed over to the winners .

Akkara Foundation observed Yoga Day through practicing yoga under the guidance of yoga instructor Ms. Archana M (PG Diploma in Yoga), she though the participants the basic yoga postures and breathing exercises, there were 20 participants.

The 30 days Camp came to an end on 1^st June 2023, all the children and their parents were given an opportunity to share their feedback and all children were given with their piece of art as token of love. Many games and activities were organized for parents and children, at last a camp fire was arranged and all the staffs, children and parents enjoyed together and winded up the camp after having dinner.

Akkara Foundation organized a one day tour for the special need children and parents to Pilikula Biological Park, Mangalore. The tour started from the centre in 3 bus accommodating 200 people, each staff was allotted to take care 2 children, in order to set the parents free for one day. Children were allowed to explore in the guidance of staffs, each staff took initiative to introduce the children various species and mammals. From morning till evening all enjoyed at the park, had food, played games and returned back to their homes.

Akkara Foundation in association with Delampady Grama Panchayat and Government College, Kasaragod NSS Unit jointly organized a two day rural camp at Delampady. Department of Social Work conducted two days UNARV – 2K23 Rural camp on 26th & 27th May 2023 (Friday & Saturday) at Banari, Delampadi Panchayat, Kasaragod. The main purpose of the camp was to provide rural camp exposure to nss volunteers from kasaragod govt college and to study the cultural, socio and economic conditions in detail about SC/ST Colonies of delampadi panchayath.NSS Volunteers from GCK, internship students from BCM College Kottayam, Assumption College Kottayam and community children were the participants of the rural camp. Venue of the camp was Sri Gopalakrishna Yakshagana Kala Mandir, Banari. On 26th may at 10 am inauguration ceremony was started and the inauguration was done by Dr. Ramananda Banari, founder of kala mandir. In the inaugural ceremony, welcome speech was done by Mr. Muhammad Yasir, Manager Akkara Foundation, presidential address was given by Ms. Nalinakshi, Banari Ward member, greetings for the camp were given by Ms. Rameshan, Range Forest Oficer, Parappa Section Kasaragod, Mr. Mani, ward member, Ms. Thahira Basheer, ward member, and the vote of thanks was given by Mr. Subin K, Project Coordinator Akkara Foundation. After the ceremony, Advt. Sreejith, CWC Member took a session on the topics “Importance of Education, Personal Hygiene, Child Rights, different types of abuses etc” , for the community children and their parents. Around fifty children from Bellypadi Colony and Kalladkka Colony and more than sixty NSS Volunteers from Kasaragod Government College were attended the session. After the session, internship trainees from BCM College, Kottayam & KVG College of Engineering, Sullia, Ms. Shahana, Rosemary and Deekshitha took a a game session for community children and nss volunteers. after lunch break, Ms. Shahana and Ms. Rosemary took a session on the topic “ importance of personal care, drug abuses and child exploitation” for the children and their parents. And then Ms. Vinduja, PRO at Akkara Foundation took a session on activities and services of Akkara foundation and Ms. Deekshitha translated the whole session in Kannada language for the kannada audience. At 3pm Adhur Police Station Sub Inspector Mr. Unni sir took a session regarding children and Indian constitution and legal helps for children. Then after the tea break at 6.30 pm cultural programs were started. NSS Volunteers arranged cinematic dances, single & group songs, comedy skit, folk songs and dances, and shingarimelam in cultural programs. Around fourty nss volunteers, twenty community children and some of the staffs also participated in cultural programs and it was ended at 12 am. After cultural programs all the nss vulunteers, Akkara foundation staffs, and others from community gathered together for a camp fire. In camp fire, each and everyone introduced themselves, sung songs, played some short games, overall camp evaluation was done and explained plans for the next day. On 27th May 7 am, nss volunteers and faculties went for morning walk near to forest areas. After the morning walk, coordinator divided the whole group of nss volunteers, intern students, staffs into four groups and assigned them for community survey and cleaning works in bellypady colony and kalladkka colony. In bellypady colony, students and staff cleaned footpath to colony, cleaned well. And conducted survey with questionnaire among twenty houses. In kalladkka colony, campers cleaned Delampadi Govt Ayurvedhic Dispensary, arranged a vegetables garden in kalamandir, and conducted survey among thirty houses. At 2 pm camp evaluation and certificate distribution was done till 4 pm. Winding up ceremony was started at 4.30 pm and welcome speech was given by Mr. Subin k, inauguration was done by Mr. Sitaram Rai, kala mandir member, presidential address was done by Ms. Nalinakshi, ward member, and greetings was given by Ms. Ashalatha, Nss Program Officer, Mr. Mani, ward member, Ms. Thahira member, and vote of thanks was given by Ms. Neha, internship student, Assumption College, Kottayam.

Yenepoya university representatives visited Akkara Foundation on 18/5/2023 .The team included faculties from physiotherapy, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, and vision therapy and speech language pathology department .Akkara foundation PRO Ms.Vinduja V Kumar gave a detailed orientation about Institution and its services ,then they visited  each department interacted with the children and staffs and finally had a discussion time with the chairman ,Manger ,HOD’s with the Yenepoya team .

Akkara Foundation as part of their community extension activity conducted awareness session at Uduma Grama Panchayat for ASHA workers and Anganwadi teacher at FHC Uduma .The session was inaugurated by the …………………………. .The  resource persons  for the day was Mr.Jinil Raj (Centre Head ) and Fathimath Thasniya M A(HOD,Consultant Psychologist ) they detailed about the importance of early identification and early intervention in disability management in children and also shared a screening tool for the better understanding and future examination .After the session an interaction session was arranged to clarify doubts and feedbacks from participants were collected  as there were 53 participants for the program.

Kerala Government organized an exhibition on 7/ 5/2023 at Kasaragod and in that Akkara Foundation was invited by social justice department Kasaragod stall for detailing about CP and Autism, its symptoms, causes and importance of   early identification and early intervention to the general public .Akkara Foundation were able to pass on knowledge to more than 200 people who visited the stall.