Arokiyam pour toustes

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Health Awareness Day in the Tamil Community

The audience seated at round tables in the reception hall

Workshops, talks and discussions on prevention (diabetes, heart health, cancer) and health rights, organised with Bobigny City Hall.

On Saturday 13 September 2025, Arokiyam pour toustes and Bobigny City Hall brought together health professionals, patients, families and volunteers in the town hall’s reception room.

The day included workshops on diabetes and cancer prevention, talks on heart health, early signs of cancer and health rights, an Ayurvedic cooking workshop and the portrait exhibition “Udalin Payanam: Engal Kuralkal” (The body’s journey: our voices).

More than 80 people came, some from well beyond the Paris region. Anamiga Joseph, Tamil interpreter and cross-cultural mediator, interpreted between French and Tamil in every workshop and round table.

Suvetha opened and closed the day, reading a poem written by Abisana.

Programme

  1. 9:00 – 9:15

    Welcome and Introduction

    Intro to the initiative, goals and themes (cancer, cardiovascular diseases, health rights). Importance of prevention within the Tamil community.

    With: Arokiyam team, Bobigny City Council (Mrs Blandine François, Mr Ranjith Singh)

  2. 9:15 – 10:15

    Workshop - Sugar and Diabetes

    Type 2 diabetes awareness, blood sugar, preventative blood tests, interpreting results, tips adapted to Tamil cuisine.

    With: Viwayga PUDKARANANTHAN, Larissa NITHYANANDAN PATRICK

  3. 10:15 – 11:45

    Talk - A Healthy Heart

    Cardiovascular diseases, sex- and South Asian-specific symptoms, risk factors including diabetes.

    With: Professor Bertrand TAVITIAN, Doctor Thulaciga YOGANATHAN, TARMS Canada Team (Doctor Saakethiya SRIRANJAN, Doctor Tharsan KANAGALINGAM), Maharajah PONNAIAH, Christian THOMAS (IDF-93 Diabetic Patients Association), Judith DUMOULIN (Advanced Practice Nurse in diabetes)

  4. 11:45 – 12:00

    Break and Portrait Exhibition

    Exhibition "Udalin Payanam: Engal Kuralkal" (The Body's Journey: Our Voices).

    With: Soubattra DANASSÉGARANE, Abisana UTHAYAKUMAR

  5. 12:00 – 13:15

    Lunch Break

    With: Silvin SARVA

  6. 13:15 – 14:15

    Workshop - Ayurvedic Cooking

    Daily Ayurvedic cooking rituals.

    With: Archcena NAGALINGAM, Silvin SARVA

  7. 14:20 – 15:45

    Talk - Early Signs of Cancer

    Breast and digestive symptoms, demystifying chemotherapy, testimonials.

    With: Doctor Rajeshwari AYYAR (California), Soubattra DANASSÉGARANE, Vidya BALASUBRAMANIAN

  8. 15:45 – 16:45

    Workshop - Cancer Prevention

    Breast self-exam and colorectal screening kit.

    With: Larissa NITHYANANDAN PATRICK, Doctor Thulaciga YOGANATHAN

  9. 16:45 – 17:15

    Snack Break

    Tasting of alternatives.

    With: Viwayga PUDKARANANTHAN

  10. 17:15 – 18:45

    Talk - Health Rights

    Accessibility, obstacles, inequalities, discrimination, action steps; useful contacts (Bobigny/Paris).

    With: Sabah JAROOF, Nirusha NATKUNARAJAH, Larissa NITHYANANDAN PATRICK

  11. 18:45 – 19:00

    Closing Remarks

    Thanks and next actions. FR/TA translation: Anamiga JOSEPH.

    With: Organizing team, City Council

Speakers

  • Thulaciga YOGANATHAN

    Cardiovascular Research Scientist, Founder of Arokiyam

  • Professeur Bertrand Tavitian

    Professor, Biomedical Imaging Researcher (Université de Paris Cité)

  • Docteure Saakethiya Sriranjan

    Psychiatry Resident (McMaster University, TARMS Director)

  • Docteur Tharsan Kanagalingam

    Internal Medicine Resident (University of Toronto, Endocrinology)

  • Maharajah PONNAIAH

    Medical Doctor, Data Scientist & AI Researcher (ICAN Paris)

  • Christian Thomas

    Diabetic Patients Association IDF-93

  • Judith Dumoulin

    Advanced practice nurse specialised in diabetes

  • Viwayga PUDKARANANTHAN

    Medical Device Engineer

  • Larissa NITHYANANDAN PATRICK

    6th-year Pharmacy Student

  • Archena Nagalingam

    Ayurvedic Practitioner, Author

  • Docteure Rajeshwari Ayyar

    Hematologist & Oncologist (California)

  • Vidya Balasubramanian

    Technology Leader (25+ years), Breast Cancer Survivor

  • Soubattra DANASSÉGARANE

    Philosophy Teacher, Artist, PhD Candidate

  • Abisana UTHAYAKUMAR

    Master's Student in Social Innovation Management, Special Needs Educator

  • Sabah Jaroof

    Public Health Nurse (ARS), Researcher on South Asian Women’s Health

  • Nirusha NATKUNARAJAH

    International Law Student, Activist

  • Anamiga JOSEPH

    Tamil-French Interpreter, Transcultural Mediator

Photos

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