September 2026 Newsletter

Dear Friends

We hope you have had a wonderful summer enjoying the sunshine and outdoors. Now, as we transition into fall, we at Maina Foundation are continuing our work with our partners in helping to prevent breast cancer.

With the generous funds donated by so any of you during our May fundraiser, we are continuing to support our existing programs, and implementing new programs.

New Programs:

LymphWatch System at Hartford Health:

Hartford Health is, with support from Maina Foundation, preparing to implement the LymphWatch system in their East Region Lymphedema Clinic.

LymphWatch equips Certified Lymphedema Therapists (CLTs) and Oncology Rehabilitation specialists with Delfin LymphScanner devices to support objective, early detection of lymphedema. This technology allows clinicians to identify changes in tissue water content before visible swelling occurs, enabling early intervention and improved patient outcomes.

"SURAKSHA Project (Screening, Understanding, Risk Assessment, Care, Health Awareness)"

The Department of Community Medicine at the Datta Meghe Medical College, Wanadongari, Nagpur has been approved to implement the "SURAKSHA Project (Screening, Understanding, Risk Assessment, Care, Health Awareness)" in selected villages under the catchment areas of SMHRC Wanadongari in Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The program will partner with Rotary Club Nagpur Vision (RCNV), which the team has collaborated with in the past for various health camps focusing on rural communities, especially women and children’s health.

Breast cancer has emerged as a major public health challenge in India, with recent data from rural areas in Nagpur indicate alarmingly low awareness levels—with over 68% of rural women having poor knowledge about breast self-examination. This proposal aims to address this critical gap through a comprehensive community-based screening and health education program targeting women aged 30 years and above in rural Nagpur.

The program aligns with national cancer screening guidelines and addresses the urgent need for early detection in resource-limited rural settings.

Ayushmati Program:

Maina Foundation will be partnering with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Nagpur, in their breast cancer screening program. Established under the leadership of Dr. Aabaji Thatte Sewa Aur Anusandhan Sanstha (Trust), the NCI has launched “Ayushmati,” a structured, community-driven initiative dedicated to liberating Indian women from the fear of cancer through awareness, education, and free early-detection screening.

Launched in 2019, Ayushmati has already screened more than 4,500 women for breast, cervical, and oral cancers. Through a combination of outreach, clinical consultation, screening examinations, follow-up, the program is structured to ensure that no woman leaves NCI without a clear understanding of her health status and the next steps she should take.

Thank you for reading, and stay healthy, continue screening for you and your loved ones!!