Prerna was established on 21 Nov 2002 under the aegis of AWWA, at Army Hospital, R&R, Delhi Cantt. It is a tri-service group, besides the Chairperson, there are three Co-ordinators, one each from the Army, Air Force, Navy and volunteers from all the three Services. Every year 10 to 15 NDC ladies join as volunteers. The aim of Prerna is to provide requisite social and emotional support to the cancer patients and their caretakers through counselling sessions, thereby helping them develop confidence and a positive attitude in their fight against the disease. Mrs Shashi Bhatia was appointed as Offg Chairperson PRERNA  on 01 Oct 2009.
The volunteers visit the four Oncology wards and the children suffering from cancer in the Paediatric ward and ask about their welfare. They also meet the patients on OPD days and encourage compliance and follow up of treatment. The importance of nutritious and balanced diet, good hygiene, mild physical exercise and a positive attitude is emphasized during these interactions. Prerna also organises interactive sessions in the wards, where the patients are encouraged to speak about their experiences in the fight against the disease. Music and dance during such sessions helps them to unwind and forget their pain and suffering for some time. Handouts have been prepared by Prerna in Hindi and English on cancer and its treatment, Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, these provide general information about cancer to the patients and their relatives so as to remove the misgivings associated with the disease. The women patients who have undergone mastectomy are given guidance and help in prosthesis fitting. They are given two special bras with pockets, free of cost from Prerna. The treatment of cancer is a long process and the patients are in hospital for a considerable length of time. To liven up the atmosphere in the Oncology wards, Tambola is held once a week in the Oncology III Male ward. A small talk on positive thinking is held in between the games and Bhajans are sung on every Thursday in the Women ward. Indoor games like carom board, snakes and ladder, ludo, scrabble etc have been provided by Prerna in the wards. Prerna volunteers celebrate all the festivals with the patients like Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Diwali, Christmas and Special Days like Republic Day, Independence Day, Children’s Day and AWWA Day in the Oncology wards. Prerna has liaised with other NGOs like ‘Make a Wish Foundation’, whose volunteers come to the Paediatric ward and interact with the children suffering from life threatening diseases and provide them with toys of their choice which include things like Doll House, Cricket Set, Video Game, big Teddy Bear, Car and Crane etc. We are also in constant touch with another NGO ‘Indian Cancer Society’ and their volunteers who are cancer survivors, visit and counsel the patient in the OPD of the hospital.
It is our endeavour to reduce the pain and suffering of the patients and bring a smile on their faces. Cure is in the hands of God, but care is surely in the hands of man.