The South Asian Colon Cancer Health Initiative (SACCHI) Project, funded by a grant from Congressman Tom Suozzi, was designed to address health disparities and reduce colon cancer risk among South Asian seniors in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. From July 2023 to July 2024, India Home led the initiative through a range of community-driven outreach and education efforts.

The SACCHI Project focused on increasing awareness of colon cancer screening and promoting preventive care within South Asian senior communities across NYC. A key component was peer encouragement, where seniors who had completed colonoscopies shared their personal experiences to help others feel more informed and comfortable about getting screened.

The initiative also supported access to care by providing facilitators to assist individuals with navigating and scheduling screening procedures. To measure impact, the program included pre- and post-intervention evaluations to assess changes in awareness, attitudes, and willingness to complete screenings among South Asian adults aged 50 and older.

Overall, SACCHI aimed to build trust in preventive healthcare, improve screening rates, and create a sustainable model for culturally responsive health education within the community.