Pallium India–USA
Pallium India-USA Inaugural Event: September 26, 2010
About Pallium India–USA
Care Beyond Cure
Pallium India–USA is the USA arm of Pallium India, a registered charitable trust in India which works at the national level to improve access to palliative care and pain relief to the millions who need such care.
Our Vision
We envision an India where every citizen will receive palliative care services and relief from suffering and pain when faced with a serious illness.
Our Mission
Support the work of Pallium India to achieve the Vision (outlined above) by:
- Creating awareness of the serious absence of these services in India in the Asian Indian population in USA, many of whom have family members residing in India.
- By building a community of people to support the work of Pallium India.
- Educate the Asian Indian population about Advance Care Planning, and decisions that they might need to make for themselves and their families here in USA when they are unable to speak for themselves.
Objectives
- Start Palliative Care facilities where none exist, especially in conjunction with Cancer and Teaching hospitals.
- Ensure availability of medication for pain management at a national level.
- Education of medical and nursing Staff to deliver these services.
Why Palliative Care?
- 70% of cancers are diagnosed when the disease is so advanced that the treatment for cure is much less effective, and they would all need palliative care. There are an estimated 2.5million cases of cancer in India at any given time. Also, about 2.5 million people in India are living with HIV/AIDS, the second largest in the world. They too would need palliative care.
- It is estimated that less than 1% of the needy have access to palliative care in India.
Why Pallium India?
Pallium India is the leading palliative care organization in India with highly trained Palliative Physicians working at a national level. They have pioneered this movement under the leadership of Dr M.R. Rajagopal. They have seventeen years of experience in this field, a good track record of starting successful palliative care and training centers and are best positioned to make an impact in this field.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is a holistic approach to caring for and improving the quality of life for people suffering from advanced life threatening and debilitating illnesses. It involves both physical and psycho-social support to the patient and family in coping with the illness, and bereavement. Support is given by treating symptoms and managing pain in an effort to minimize a patient’s suffering and improve their quality of life.
Many are suffering through these illnesses in silence, coping the best way they can and dealing with unimaginable levels of pain. Palliative care offers the support and treatment necessary so no one should have to battle these diseases alone or in silence.
Be a Volunteer, Donate, Spread the Word!
Volunteering Opportunities
If you have the time and skills that you think would benefit Pallium India–USA, please get in touch using the contact form here…
Donations
You can mail tax-deductible donations by check to:
Pallium India-USA
14570 Horseshoe Drive
Saratoga, CA 95070, USA
- Pallium India operates as a 501(c)(3) through it’s link with Indo-American Cancer Association (IACA) (EIN is 22-3945213).
- All donations are tax-deductible. Receipts will be mailed to you.
Questions? Comments? Contact us!
Dr. Jerina Kapoor – Founder, Pallium India–USA
usa@palliumindia.org or use the form here…
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RECENT EVENTS
Pallium India-USA Sevathon Stall
Pallium India-USA had it’s very first event at the Sevathon at the Sunnyvale Baylands Park in California.
It was attended by an estimated 2,500 people, and the atmosphere was full of enthusiasm and good cheer. It was a great opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to the local community as well as the other Indian charities.
People were very curious about palliative care issues and the work being done by Pallium India. Our colorful booth was manned by Uday, Abhilash and Jerina, and people found our collage informative. Many promised to attend our upcoming event on Sept. 26th.
Thank you Neethu Raj, Arnavaz Wadia, Rashna Wadia and Pushpa Menon for helping us put this together. A very special mention and thanks to Smita Patel and Abhilash Rajagopal without whose selfless work this event would not have been possible.
Uday, Jerina & Abhilash from Pallium India-USA
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UPCOMING EVENTS
September 26, 2010 – 3 p.m.
Lotus Room, India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas, CA 95035
408-934-1130Join Pallium India-USA for a discussion about two critical issues that affect your future and that of your loved ones:
An Elephant in the Room: Pain, Suffering and Palliative Care in India
Speaker: Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, Chairman Pallium India
People living in India and faced with a terminal illness, such as cancer, AIDS, kidney or liver failure, receive care that is dramatically different from what we take for granted in the US. Many are suffering these illnesses in silence, coping the best way they can, and dealing with unimaginable levels of pain. Palliative care offers support and treatment so no one has to battle these illnesses alone or in silence.
But why is this crucial field of medicine practically absent in India?
Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, an internationally respected pioneer in this field, will discuss his remarkable efforts and the challenges that he has faced in his campaign to bring palliative care to the suffering in India.
Advance Care Planning
Speaker: VJ Periyakoil, Asst Professor Palliative Care, Stanford University
Advance care planning is decisions about the care you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself.
Learn how to create an advance directive for yourself or help a loved one understand the choices and decisions they may need to make.
Come join us for an afternoon of information and discussion and also make a difference.
Download the flyer here…
