Ophira Bhatia of Mondelez India and Anil Nair of St. Jude highlight the role of safe housing and holistic care in supporting families during cancer treatment
(From right) – Mukeeta Jhaveri (Vice-Chairperson, St. Judes); Anil Nair (Chief Executive Officer, St. Judes); Usha Banerji (Team Leader – St. Judes For Life); Ophira Bhatia (VP, CGA India and AMEA CGA Lead); Samir Jain (President, Mondelez India) and Nitin Saini (VP- Marketing, Mondelez India)
(From Left) – Aditya Mangaldas (Director, St. Judes); Ashutosh Pednekar (Director, Hon. Treasurer, St. Judes); Roopali Mashruwala (Director, St. Judes) and Manisha Parthasarathy (Chairperson, St. Judes)
Mondelez India, in partnership with St. Jude India ChildCare Centres, has inaugurated two dedicated residential units at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Navi Mumbai, part of Tata Memorial Centre. Together, these units will provide free accommodation and holistic support for 24 families at a time, offering not only a safe place to stay but also access to nutrition, counselling, education, and transportation for children undergoing treatment.
Every year, thousands of families from across India travel to Mumbai in search of cancer care for their children. For families from underprivileged backgrounds, the lack of safe and affordable housing becomes a major challenge. With treatment cycles lasting for months, many families are forced to discontinue care, despite the fact that most childhood cancers are highly curable with timely and complete treatment. The absence of hygienic living conditions also increases the risk of infections for young patients, affecting survival.
Ophira Bhatia, VP, CGA India and AMEA CGA Lead, Mondelez India, said, “At Mondelez India, we believe no child’s recovery should be interrupted because their family cannot afford a safe place to stay. These centres are more than buildings, they are a lifeline for families who have already travelled far and sacrificed much. By partnering with St. Jude India Childcare Center, we are able to offer shelter, nutrition and emotional support that help children fight not only the disease, but also the uncertainty that comes with it.”
The two units supported by Mondelez India are part of St. Jude’s largest facility to date—a 12-storey, 234-unit complex at ACTREC. Once fully operational, the centre will support more than 700 families annually and is expected to provide a safe haven for 34,000 families over the next 20 years. Each unit supported by Mondelez India can house 12 families at a time, enabling over 60 families each year to remain close to care, continue treatment, and improve survival outcomes.
St. Jude’s CEO, Anil Nair, said, “For families from underprivileged backgrounds who must travel to big cities for their child’s cancer treatment, St. Judes is a sanctuary that offers more than comfort, support and care – it provides them with hope. Our centres provide a nurturing environment where young patients can recover with dignity. With the support of Mondelez India, this new facility will extend that lifeline to hundreds more children and families each year.”
The inauguration was attended by Samir Jain, President, Mondelez India; Ophira Bhatia, VP, CGA India and AMEA CGA Lead; Nitin Saini, VP- Marketing, Mondelez India; Manisha Parthasarathy, Chairperson, St. Judes; and Anil Nair, CEO, St. Judes, along with members of the St. Jude’s team.