Published on: February 1, 2021

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New WHO Guidelines for management of chronic pain in children is released on 01 February 2021.

Click here to read the new guidelines: https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2021-who-issues-new-guidelines-on-the-management-of-chronic-pain-in-children

The guideline development group had a difficult task to perform. For one thing, they had to base the guidelines on available evidence, which unfortunately is not much. High quality evidence is not easy to generate on subjective symptoms at any age; but ethical considerations make randomised controlled studies harder to perform in children.

Secondly, the guidelines needed to encompass a wide range of conditions including cancer pain and chronic non-cancer pain.

Understandably, for these reasons, the guidelines are broad-based.

February 4 is World Cancer Day. Here is a lineup of events aimed at improving awareness on cancer and palliative care. The links to register for each are given below. Please share these in your networks as well:

Register for these events

Feb 1, 2:30 PM (IST): Round Table Early Integration of Palliative Care

Feb 3, 4 PM (IST): Webinar on Palliative Care: Where every moment of life matters. ‘Cure Often, Care Always.’

Feb 4, 11 AM (IST): Cancer E-Summit: Strengthening India’s Mission to Fight Cancer

Feb 4, 6.15 PM (IST): Webinar from Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement: “Barrier-Free Life: Celebrating Amazing Achievers”

On World Cancer Day, February 4, Pallium India and Kudumbashree Mission are organizing an awareness program in Malayalam, from 2 PM onwards. This can be seen live on Pallium India’s Facebook page.

There are more events coming up this month. Follow us to get notifications when we go Live: https://www.facebook.com/palliumindia

Video of the Month

Ashla Rani speaks at the World Health Organization’s 148th Executive Board

Pallium India’s trustee, Ashla Rani, a person with disability and lived experience of palliative care, has requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to incorporate palliative care into global disability action plans and ensure better health for people with disabilities. Speaking at the 148th WHO Executive Board via video conference, Ashla Rani said, “We request that, in future, WHO disability plans and resolutions relating to disability ensure adequate consideration of access to palliative care for people with disabilities.”

The Executive Board of the WHO that took place from 18th to 26th January 2021, was chaired by Dr Harsh Vardhan, India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, and attended by WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Ashla Rani was part of a delegation representing Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA). The focus of WHPCA’s intervention is on ensuring that the voice of people with lived experience of palliative care is heard on key policy topics.

Click here (or on the image) to view the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OYNpAy5d_c

Subscribe to Pallium India’s youtube channel for more videos.

Ashla Rani is also featured in the Global Atlas of Palliative Care (2nd Ed.), launched in October 2020. The Global Atlas of Palliative Care is a source of essential information on the status of palliative care worldwide. This is the second edition of the Global Atlas (the first edition was published in 2014): Global Atlas of Palliative Care, 2nd Ed 2020

Palliative Care and Covid-19 Series Briefing Notes – Compilation: In response to the emergency of the pandemic and its unprecedented effects on patients and palliative care providers around the world, a series of briefing notes were developed jointly by International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), Palchase and Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA). We are delighted that Pallium India’s Ashla Rani was one of the co-authors of the briefing note on the needs of people with physical and intellectual disabilities (page 56/57). Please see the
http://www.thewhpca.org/covid-19/latest-news/item/palliative-care-and-covid-19-series-briefing-notes-compilation-3

Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen:

Congratulations, Dr Satendra Singh

It is a matter of pride for all of us at Pallium India that our friend and Disability Rights defender (and much more!), Dr Satendra Singh has been awarded the National Award on ECI’s 11th National Voters Day 2021 for best electoral practices on Accessible Elections for persons with disabilities & the elderly. Dr Satendra received the award from Hon’ble President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on 25th January 2021.

Dr Satendra Singh (@drsitu) tweeted, “I dedicate the National Award conferred to me by His Excellency President of India on #NationalVotersDay2021 to the perseverance & resilience of all the voters with disabilities who contribute to nation building in the worlds largest democracy.”

Asking for help is not a weakness.

The current pandemic has brought with it a cloud of grief, and many of us are not equipped with the tools to deal with it.

If you have lost a loved one, if you are finding it hard to cope, if you are feeling sad, angry or lonely, do call us:

SUKH-DUKH Helpline +91 759 4052 605

Do share this with your friends who might need emotional support.

IAPCON 2021

28th International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) – An Online Conference coordinated by AIIMS Patna

Theme: Searching Empathy through Research

Date: 19th, 20th & 21st of March, 2021 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Time: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Pre-conference workshop: Wednesday, the 18th March 2021

Registration, Abstract Submission & other information:
https://www.palliativecare.in/iapc-annual-conference-iapcon-2021/

India’s economy rides on health of its people. Budget 2021 must acknowledge that.

Dr K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI writes in the Indian Express:

Health research must be funded more, especially in the area of implementation research to ensure that more money for health translates to more health for the money. Read more.

‘The imprisonment and high-tech torture of dying people in ICUs is a growing Indian disease’

WHO estimates 40 million people need palliative care every year. At the moment, palliative care is available only to a tiny minority of people in India. At least 98% people are deprived of even basic pain relief. In the context of the growing catastrophic health expenditure which pushes 5.5 crore of Indians into poverty every year, it becomes particularly important to bring in more humanity and compassion to care.

Narayani Ganesh, in conversation with Dr M R Rajagopal, in the Times of India: Read more

Obituary

Dr V Shanta, the famous oncologist of Adayar Cancer Institute (Regional Cancer Centre) Chennai, passed away on 19th January 2021. Born into a family of distinguished scientists including Nobel laureates Dr C V Raman (grand uncle) and Dr S Chandrasekar (uncle), Dr V Shanta made Adayar Cancer Institute her life-work. Her selfless service earned her many awards including Magsaysay award, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. The epitome of compassion, Dr V Shanta had a lot of good words to say about palliative care.

When Pallium India organised a screening of the film ‘Hippocratic‘ (produced by Moonshine Agency) in Chennai, she attended the event and gave an opening speech. She sat through the whole movie and at the end asked for the microphone again. Visibly overcome, she said, “This is the kind of work that remains to be done. We treat diseases; but people continue to suffer.”

We bow to this great person.

May her soul rest in peace.

Obituary

Dr Abdul Kareem from Wandoor near Nilambur, in Kerala, passed away on 19th January, 2021.

When Dr Kareem had qualified as a doctor, his father had given an instruction: “Son, never take a consultation fee of more than five rupees from anyone.” Five rupees was not much even at that time, and later with inflation, it became a laughable amount. But he kept the promise and continued to give almost-free service for the poor people in the neighbourhood. And when the need arose, he would assist patients and families financially. A noble soul, he had gone through a cancer experience, thereafter in his 50’s learned palliative care and incorporated it in his general practice.

May his soul rest in peace.

Date extended: Manjuthulli Art Exhibition &Sale to raise funds for our palliative care activities, especially education of children from disease-ravaged families, is on till February 15, 2021. Please purchase a painting and support our cause. For more information, write to us: info@palliumindia.org

Upcoming Events

Check out all our upcoming events: https://palliumindia.org/events

For more information on any of these, write to: info@palliumindia.org

Congratulations!!

Sandra Johnson and Gayathri P Nair, Medical Social Workers at Pallium India obtained 2nd and 6th ranks respectively in Master of Social Work (2-year PG course) at Kerala University. Congratulations Sandra and Gayathri! All of us at Pallium India are so delighted and proud of you!

Sanghamithra Charitable Trust, a palliative home care unit and a link centre of Pallium India based in Attukal, Thiruvananthapuram, was inaugurated on Jan 10 morning.

Best Wishes! And thank you for joining us in our efforts to relieve health-related suffering.

The Joy of Giving

..let’s not abdicate our responsibility as good human beings which is to show our concern for those suffering, share their grievances and support them in every way we can. ” Pallium India’s volunteer, Krishnaraj Nambiar, writes about the Joy of Giving.

Mass casualty events and palliative care: A peek into Kerala’s health-system preparedness

“Kerala, the state that reported the first case of COVID-19 in the country, has been appreciated globally for its health system preparedness to address the pandemic. […] To redress the overwhelmed health system and manage COVID-19 on war footing, emergency services were prioritised. As a result, surgeries were postponed and out-patient services shut down.” Dr Vijesh V. V (Coordinator – National Outreach Programme, Pallium India) takes a peek into Kerala’s health-system preparedness in the context of Covid-19, and the road ahead.

How 2021 can be more disability-inclusive

According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 1 billion people living with some kind of disability around the world. They account for 15% of the world’s population and represent the largest minority group. Abhishek Anicca, Shubha Nagesh write in Devex.com: How 2021 can be more disability-inclusive

Books donated to Pallium India

These Malayalam books have been donated by their authors to Pallium India, for fundraising purposes. Each book costs ₹100. Please contact us if you are interested to get copies of any/all of these books:  97447 90223 / info@palliumindia.org

Webinar on Kerala Palliative Care Day

On Jan 15, 2021, Pallium India conducted a webinar in Malayalam on “Care with Competence and Compassion – Relevance of Palliative Care during Covid-19”. The speakers were Mr S M Vijayanand IAS (Former Chief Secretary, Kerala), Mr Narayanan Puthukkudy (President, IAPC Kerala), Dr Athul Joseph Manuel (Medical Officer, Palliative Care Department, General Hospital, Ernakulam) and TC Rajesh (Freelance Journalist). The talk was moderated by Dr Sreedevi Warrier (Palliative Care Physician, Pallium India). Watch the recording here.

A Great Beginning! – ESI Kerala

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Government of India is a giant in healthcare in India, offering healthcare to all government employees, and of many private institutions and their families.

Thanks to the initiative from Department of Health, Government of Kerala, ESI Kerala is all set to initiate palliative home care – in the city of Kollam to start with. On the 7th of January 2021, we at Pallium India had the privilege to hold a 2-hour sensitization session for 95 doctors and nurses from ESI Kerala. Read more

Students Against Needless Suffering and Pain (SANS Pain): Pallium India has been collaborating with Kerala University to provide palliative care training to students. Covid-19 had paused the activities last year but now we have restarted them online, with support from Project ECHO. The training for Trivandrum district was conducted from Jan 25 to 30, 2021; 74 students participated. In the coming days, students of Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts will receive training.

We believe these sessions will not only open their eyes to the suffering around them, but also show them what they can do about it. This training will prepare them, as the citizens of tomorrow, to bring about a positive change in society and to develop a compassionate community.

We are excited by the feedback we receive from the participants and the stories they share about the experiences they have had. And more heart-warming is the compassion we read between the lines.

Pallium India invites applications to the post of Physiatrist

Essential Qualification: M.B.B.S, M.D (PM&R)/D.P.M.R. from a recognized university, with Medical Council Registration

Experience: Fresher /1-2 years

Click here to read the complete Job Description and to apply: https://palliumindia.org/category/career

PARTING SHOT

Conventionally on India’s Republic Day, the 26th of January, the national flag is unfurled by the most important person in any premises. So guess who it would be in Pallium India!

If you look at https://palliumindia.org/pallium-india, you will see our organization’s foremost core value, “The patient is the most important consideration. Commitment to Pallium India will be secondary to commitment to the patient and family”.

One from among the most important people in our premises, Anitha, a patient in our care, unfurled the flag on the morning of January 26, 2021. Our Republic Day Greetings to everyone!

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