The devastating floods in Kerala have left in their wake death and destruction of unprecedented scale. The response from across the state, the country and the globe, has been immense.
Pallium India is making special efforts to reach out to people suffering from serious health issues and their families, who are affected by the floods. As can be imagined, their plight in the aftermath of a natural calamity could be much worse than that of healthy people. They need palliative care much more than during normal times.
We are mounting a campaign “Let us not leave them adrift” to provide support to them. We need your help.
We seek:
1. Palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers and other healthcare volunteers, willing to contribute their time to visit the affected areas and provide care. If you are interested, please let us know your name, email ID, mobile/Whatsapp number and location.
2. Cash donations to support the costs involved.
Pallium India, Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) Kerala, all our partners and volunteers from the state will be actively involved in responding to the crisis.
Donations to be sent to:
| Domestic Transfer | Foreign Transfer | USA Donation |
| State Bank of India Branch: Pattom, Trivandrum Beneficiary: Pallium India Trust Account No: 30086491915 IFS Code: SBIN0003355 MICR No: 695002007 |
Dhanlaxmi Bank Branch: Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum Beneficiary: Pallium India Trust Account No: 003700900000036 IFS Code: DLXB0000037 SWIFT Code: DLXBINBBXXX |
Pallium India, Inc. Citibank, CITIBANK N.A., 1 Broadway, New York, NY 10004. Account Number: 4978375885 SWIFT Code: CITI US 33 ABA/Routing Number: 0210-0008-9 |
Online (Domestic): https://palliumindia.org/donate/ |
Online (International): https://palliumindia.org/donate/ |
Online (from the USA): http://palliumindiausa.org/ |
Contact
For further details, please write to: pledge@palliumindia.org or call: +91-8593 8593 60
*(image of Kerala Floods, obtained from social media)
On the 31st of August, Shemeema, one of our nurses, visited the home of SK, aged 39, in Pathanamthitta Dist. She says:
“He used to drive an auto rickshaw until an accident four years ago left him paralysed. He lives in a small two-room shack with asbestos roofing, with his wife and two school-going children. With no means of livelihood, they had been eking out an existence with the help of neighbours and friends.
“These generous benefactors have all themselves been badly affected by the floods. SK’s house was inundated and badly damaged. All his belongings were lost – not even a bed for him to lie on could be salvaged. When our social worker and I met him, he was inconsolable, and we were struck almost speechless by the hopelessness of his situation.
“To add to his woes, he has an inflammatory wound in his coccyx, for which surgery is urgently required. He is praying for help – of any kind – from any source”.
LET’S NOT LEAVE THEM ADRIFT…
As part of our flood relief and rehabilitation activities, Pallium India’s social workers have been on the ground in some of the worst affected areas. Their primary objective is to assess palliative care and other health-related needs among the victims. This database will be shared with concerned local authorities with whom we will work hand in hand. Our team also provides clinical support and distributes preventive medication.
You can also support us. Click here to know how: Let’s not leave them adrift
On World Hospice and Palliative care day, October 13, 2018, Pallium India is organizing a visit for patients and families to “Magic Planet”, the magic-themed park in Trivandrum. We expect around 450 people to take part in the program. The expense is estimated to be ₹1000 per person. We request you to donate and support us in making this a memorable day for the people in our care: https://palliumindia.org/donate/ (For more information, please contact Babu Abraham: +91-9746745502)
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The theme of this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is: “Palliative Care – Because I Matter!”
This year is the centenary of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement. So it is fitting that this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day theme draws its wording from her iconic quote: ‘You matter because you are you and you matter until the end of your life’.
This theme was chosen because it centres on the experience of people affected by serious illness, looking at what matters most, including the often-overlooked financial impact of palliative care needs on individuals and households. The theme also contains elements of human rights and justice, asking: “If I matter, then why am I not getting the care I need?”
To know more about the Day and to register your event, visit: http://www.thewhpca.org/about
Pallium India started its first batch of 10-day foundation course in palliative medicine in Silchar, Assam. The participants for this course are medical professionals of Assam Rifles. The project, called North East Alliance Against Cancer, has been organized in collaboration with National Cancer Grid and Assam Rifles.
The inauguration was done in the presence of Assam Rifles Officers, Col. Dalal, Col. Saha and Dr. Ravi Kannan, (Director, Cachar Cancer Hospital, Silchar Assam), Dr. Iqbal and Dr. Ritesh, as well as visiting faculty Dr. Dinesh from Ahmedabad and Sister Stella from Calicut.
Read: Assam Rifles train to fight cancer in the North East
A video that went viral during the recent floods in Kerala was the one of the ‘human footstool’ in action, or should we say, in service! This young man, Jaisal from Tanur, Malappuram, rendered invaluable and timely help, in a manner that was so innovative, resourceful, but above all, self-effacing. Jaisal lowered himself as low as he could into those swirling, murky waters, so women could use his back as a stool, to step into a rescue boat which would take them to safety. Like so many other unsung heroes that the floods produced, this giant of a man sprang into action with no thought for his own health or physical well-being.
We truly hope we get to meet him some day, to tell him how much we admire and respect him, for setting such an amazing example of humanity for the entire world.
What a month for losses!
First, the shock of the worst floods in a century in Kerala with about 1 million people in relief camps. And then came the news of the death of two people, who had for many years enriched my life as well as that of numerous people in palliative care.
One was Subair – Subair who came to us as a patient some 23 years back with a broken life and a story of stepwise amputations of his lower limb due to cancer; the financial destruction which sent his children to an orphanage; agonising pain which could be controlled on fairly high doses of morphine; rehab with a coffee vending machine which gave him back his life and livelihood, reuniting the whole family. A tower of strength, he inspired other patients and families and all he came across.
This man demonstrated with his life, how to overcome adversities. When he found that his experience with pain management and with morphine could be a learning point for others, he always went out of his way to tell his story to those who needed that learning, including doctors and medical students. Much has been written about him; he was also filmed by Moonshine Agencies in Australia and by others. He finally succumbed to his ailments on 25th August, 2018.
Soon afterwards, we heard about the sudden demise of another of our fellow-travellers, Rahna from Nilambur.
She too had been our friend for about 20 years. She had pain from a cruel disease called chronic calcific pancreatitis.
(Image: Rahna [in green] with her mother Sainaba)
Rahna taught us forbearance and her whole family taught us lessons in integrity.
Both Subair and Rahna not only consented to having their photographs made public, but also had asked us to make their stories known if they will benefit others.
Thank you, Subair and Rahna. Rest in peace!
