We are Right Minded & Like Minded

A smile can add happiness to others,

A word can change lives of others,

A gaze can solace millions of lives,

A voice can enchant the souls in the darkness,

We can make some change in the World...

Moulana is the founder and chair of Thanal Charitable Organization. He is the pioneer of home-based palliative care services in Lakshadweep. He mobilized volunteers, doctors, and nurses for palliative care in all remote islands of Lakshadweep, including capacity building.

An accomplished art educator and school teacher, he holds degrees from esteemed institutions such as Kerala Kala Mandalam and Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Notably, he is recognized as one of the pioneering volunteers trained in palliative care.

In Lakshadweep, opioid pain medicine Morphine was unavailable to terminal cancer patients. Under Moulana’s leadership, the Recognized Medical Institute was established, providing free Morphine to patients with end-stage cancer.

Moulana initiated CHILDLINE services in the UT of Lakshadweep to provide educational support and healthcare services to vulnerable children. He was the first collaborating agency of Childline services in Lakshadweep from 2016 to 2023. 

Additionally, he cofounded the first NGO-owned dialysis centers at Amini and Androth Islands in Lakshadweep to serve the marginalized people of Amini, Kadmat, Kiltan, and Chethlath Islands.

His role involves resolving and settling family disputes. Through out-of-court settlements conducted under the guidance of an honorable district court, he has positively impacted numerous families and their children.

Dr. Ali Azher is a pioneering medical professional whose work has redefined the healthcare landscape of Lakshadweep through his singular focus on palliative and cancer care. A graduate in MBBS, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and MD in Radiation Oncology from the prestigious BJMC – The Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Dr. Ali stands as a beacon of compassionate innovation in regions often left unheard.

In 2013, driven by an unyielding vision to bridge the gaps in palliative care and end-of-life care, he established the Lakshadweep Institute of Palliative Medicine in Kavaratti to provide home based palliative care. More than just a healthcare facility, the institute functions as a vibrant center for learning, collaboration, and community engagement. It actively hosts students of Master of Social Work (MSW), providing them with immersive field experiences in social care, grassroots interventions, and island-specific healthcare dynamics.

Dr. Ali was also the first oncology specialist in Lakshadweep, and his contributions are deeply embedded in the fabric of the region’s healthcare evolution. He initiated a Day Care Cancer Centre at District Hospital (IGH) Kavaratti, introducing decentralized chemotherapy services for underprivileged patients who previously had to travel to mainland India for treatment—often at great emotional and financial cost.  A mammogram unit has been integrated into this center for specialized screening of the most prevalent breast cancer under PM Smart City Project.  

Understanding the chronic health needs of islanders, he spearheaded the establishment of dialysis centers on the islands of Amini and Androth, both densely populated yet underserved. With two dialysis machines each, these centers now provide critical support to numerous of kidney patients and represent a significant milestone in localized, accessible healthcare delivery.

Dr. Ali’s career is marked by impactful collaborations with leading national and international health organizations including Pallium India Trust, Pal Care Foundation, and the Australasian Palliative Link International (APLI). One of his most notable initiatives, Project Hamrahi, in partnership with Pallium India and APLI, brought Australian doctor-nurse teams to the remote Lakshadweep archipelago—an unprecedented move that strengthened the on-ground capacity and expanded palliative care services across the islands. Dr Ali is the first doctor to be certified as a palliative care physician with license to possess the oral morphine under recognized medical institution (RMI). 

His work is guided by a deeply holistic and human-centered philosophy, emphasizing that true healing transcends medical interventions. He champions community participation, sustainable healthcare practices, and culturally sensitive service delivery. Through capacity building, medical training through onsite and online, and empathetic care models, Dr. Ali has set a new benchmark for healthcare in geographically isolated regions.

In an era when the voices of the Global South often remain marginalized in global health narratives, Dr. Ali’s work speaks volumes. His work like establishment of palliative care centers and dialysis centers in remote islands amplifies the power of compassion, collaboration, and culturally rooted care and stands as a global model for community-integrated care in remote and resource-constrained environments.

Dr. Ali Azher reminds us that healing doesn’t just happen in hospitals—it happens in homes, hearts, and within the strength of communities. His journey continues to uplift lives, transform systems, and inspire a future where healthcare is driven not only by expertise, but by empathy.