A phrase we were introduced to by Mhoira Leng who had come across it in her work in conflict riddled Gaza, from those who suffer in ways most of us cannot even fathom – showing us that humanity and love have always been and always will be the only answer to unspeakable tragedy.
At the annual international palliative care conference this year, we saw the planting of a new seed – the first steps in creating a Task Force for palliative care in humanitarian aid and emergency settings in the Indian context.
Illness can bring unimaginable suffering. There is indescribable horror when there is a disaster, be it natural or manmade. Bring those two together and it is almost too much to bear.
But rather than look away, it is now more than ever that we really need to examine the human condition in all its raging, despairing, clawing misery, and meet it with compassion.
The relief efforts in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Nepal, the stories from Sudan and Gaza, and other accounts from Kerala were profoundly moving. Learning about the work done by the Border Security Force every year in Assam when the Brahmaputra river floods was an eye-opening experience.
And witnessing palliative care providers and defence personnel come together to talk about joining hands for the alleviation of suffering was unexpected, uplifting and deeply restorative.
“Humanity to Infinity.”
In the darkest of times. In the most wounded places.
Thank you Dr. Mhoira Leng, Dr. Chitra Venkatesh and Dr. Jenifer Mugesh for organising the session. Thanks to Mr. Noordeen, Dr. Dan Munday, Dr. Athul Joseph Manuel for wonderful presentations. We were privileged to talk about our own work in Alapuzha District of Kerala after the 2018 floods, a project that was generously supported by Cipla Foundation.
Special thank you to Dr. Savita Butola for bringing in her colleagues from the BSF – Suresh Kumar Commandant, Ftr HQ BSF Guwahati and Ratish Kumar, AC(Law). We salute them.
Close on the heels of the “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) guidelines created by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) comes this welcome news. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has created draft guidelines for end of life care.
We shall eagerly await the final document when it goes up on AIIMS website for public suggestions.
Read: AIIMS’ draft end-of-life policy gives terminally-ill patients, family, option to end treatment
On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, His Holiness Pope Francis has this message for us:
“What is needed is a personalized approach to the sick, not just of curing but also of caring, in view of an integral human healing. In experiencing illness, individuals not only feel threatened in their physical integrity, but also in the relational, intellectual, affective and spiritual dimensions of their lives. For this reason, in addition to therapy and support, they expect care and attention. In a word, love. At the side of every sick person, there is also a family, which itself suffers and is in need of support and comfort.”
“When you can no longer provide a cure, you will still be able to provide care and healing, through gestures and procedures that give comfort and relief to the sick.”
Please read the message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of the Sick 2020.
It was Pope John Paul II who began the observation of the World Day of the Sick on February 11th, as a route for devotees to offer prayers for those suffering from ailments.
Organization: Pallium India
Job Title: Project Coordinator for ECHO
Nature of Job: Permanent – Full Time
Vacancy: 1 (one)
Reporting to: Director – Programme
Place of Job: Trivandrum
Qualification: Graduate in any field
Skill set required
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Documentation management.
- Proficiency in English language
- Organizational skills.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills.
Responsibilities & Duties
- Coordinate virtual training activities, resources, equipment and information.
- Creating the schedule for each course, with session objectives, start and end dates and other resources, such as facilitator, faculty. Case presentation etc.
- Ensuring equipment and resources are always available and each online sessions are well-organized and get completed on time
- Ensure intimation about the course to all palliative care centres, medical colleges and other medical centres in the country through telephone and emails and /or advertisements & publications.
- Providing information to project officers and regular support to stakeholders.
- Prepare tabular details of all applicants for the course before the program and updating it in the online platform provided by ECHO India.
- Proper documentation of all activities associated with the project and proper dispatch of quarterly and annual project report.
- Liaising with accounts department of Pallium India to ensure proper utilization and documentation of the course fees received from the participants.
- Attend trainings conducted as part of self-development in or outside base location.
- Coordination between the trainees and faculties and ensure smoothness in the training programmes
- Documentation of each and every activity carried out
How to apply:
Interested candidates please send detailed and updated CV to hr@palliumindia.org with subject as “Project Coordinator for ECHO”.
For more details, contact: Arathy V Nair, Human Resources: +91 9746745501
Email: hr@palliumindia.org
