Ottapalam Welfare Trust

OWT is committed to promoting early intervention and prevention in healthcare through its outreach programmes. Since 2004, these programmes have engaged healthcare professionals, district systems, and local communities, emphasizing the importance of seeking help early. OWT's carefully curated materials and well-equipped diagnostic lab support these initiatives. They have conducted over 1000 awareness classes, 150+ screening camps, and reached out to more than 35,000 individuals. Recognizing the limited understanding of healthcare issues in rural communities, OWT was among the pioneers in establishing a Palliative Care Unit in Palakkad district, providing comprehensive care for patients and their families. To date, their Palliative care team has served over 2000 patients who do not respond to curative treatment, offering essential support and comfort.

OWT is dedicated to raising awareness about mental illness and providing effective and compassionate treatment to economically disadvantaged communities. With one in five Indians experiencing depression in their lifetime, but only 10-12% seeking help, there is a pressing need for increased mental health awareness and accessible services. To combat the stigma associated with mental health and foster a supportive community, OWT has partnered with The Banyan and Mehac to establish a Psychiatry Clinic on its premises. This clinic not only offers treatment for individuals with mental illness but also actively works to challenge the prevailing stigma. The services provided include psychiatric care, home care, daycare, community awareness programmes, and volunteer education, all aimed at improving mental health support and eliminating stigma.

OWT is committed to reducing the prevalence of cancer in the community through its Early Awareness and Detection programme. Recognizing the potential for cancer to remain undetected for years, OWT saw a significant gap in awareness about this silent killer in the surrounding communities. To address this issue, it initiated a programme that focuses on educating and raising awareness among community members about the importance of early cancer detection and timely intervention. OWT has established strong partnerships with the Regional Cancer Centre in Kanjikode, enabling it to access the technical and professional expertise required for awareness and screening camps. It has also collaborated with health professionals in Primary Health Centres and ASHA workers in each panchayat to ensure the programme reaches low-income families effectively. This proactive approach aims to empower communities with knowledge and tools to combat cancer.

The Ottapalam Welfare Trust (OWT) is dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness by providing modern and exceptional eye care services. It firmly believes that no one should suffer from blindness due to the lack of access to quality treatment or the inability to afford it. Recognizing that visual impairment can lead to economic challenges, it established the Ottapalam Eye Care Hospital (OEH) in collaboration with the Comtrust Eye Care Society in 2008. Today, OEH operates as a fully equipped Eye Speciality Hospital with state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring that underprivileged communities have access to high-quality eye care services. These services include comprehensive eye testing, cataract surgery, glaucoma services, diabetic retinopathy treatment, and various other ophthalmological services. Additionally, OWT conducts free eye camps, cataract screenings, and school screenings to reach those below the poverty line, demonstrating its commitment to community-focused eye care.