July 2023
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Message from the New Chairman
I am humbled and grateful to be named the Chairman of this highly recognised and reputed organization. I would like to thank everyone who placed their trust in me, especially the Trustees of Pallium India who felt that I am worthy of taking on the mantle from Dr. Rajagopal, a living legend in the field of palliative care.
As you all know, our organization was founded with a clear vision – An India in which palliative care is integrated in all health care so that every person has access to effective pain relief and quality palliative care along with disease–specific treatment and across the continuum of care.
We hope you are aware of the changes in Pallium India’s Board of Trustees. If not, please read:
Binod Hariharan takes over as Chairman of Pallium India Trust
Over the years, we have worked hard to make that vision a reality, and I am proud of all that we have accomplished so far.
I believe that we have a tremendous opportunity to make a deep impact in the lives of millions of people around us. How do we execute on it ?
First and foremost, we must stay true to our core values. We must always remember why we are here and what we are trying to accomplish. We must never lose sight of our vision.
Secondly, we must be willing to adapt. While this organisation has grown in size and strength and today is one of the leaders in the field of palliative care in the country, we cannot afford to be complacent. The world is constantly changing, and if we want to stay relevant, we must be willing to change with it. We must be open to new ideas, embrace new and innovative ways of doing things. Every day we hear about giant leaps in technology in every field and healthcare is no exception. We must adopt technologies which can improve the quality and quantity of our care delivery, and thereby reduce the suffering of millions in needless pain.
Finally, we must work together. None of us can achieve our goals alone. We need to support one another if we want to make a real difference in people’s lives. We must learn to collaborate with other stakeholders who share our vision, and I look forward to continued support from all the well-wishers and supporters in the days and years to come as we strive to achieve our vision and make a positive impact on the world.
In conclusion, I am very excited about the future of our organization. I believe that if we hold on to our core values, remain open to change & adapt, and embrace collaboration in our work environment, there is no reason why we cannot move even faster towards our vision.
Thank you once again for this great honour and I hope I will be able to live up to the expectations of the many inside and outside the organisation.
Binod Hariharan
Chairman, Pallium India
Pallium India at the European Association for Palliative Care 18th World Congress
The European Association for Palliative Care had its 18th World Congress in Rotterdam, The Netherlands between June 15th and 17th 2023. The theme for this year was ‘Equity and Diversity’.
Pallium India’s Head of Policy, Strategic Programs and Partnerships, Smriti Rana was invited to speak at two parallel sessions.
The first was a panel discussion on Rethinking Palliative Care in Cultural Traditions to Optimize Equity and Diversity, where she made a presentation on ‘Reframing Palliative Care through a Global South Perspective’.
The second was the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: Future Actions for Palliative Care, where Smriti presented on ‘Loss, Caring and Suffering: The Role of Palliative Care in Low and Middle Income Countries’. Smriti was there in lieu of Dr. Rajagopal, who was one of the Commissioners on the report, as were the other panelists and the Chair – Dr. Libby Sallnow, Dr. Ros Taylor and Prof. Katherine Sleeman respectively.
Happy Doctors’ Day – July 1, 2023
Happy Doctors’ Day to all our compassionate, kind, brilliant doctors! Thank you for your outstanding work!
Millions suffer without morphine access
Lack of access to opioids like morphine worldwide is leading to millions suffering preventable pain, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, a majority from low income countries.
In its ‘Left Behind in Pain’ report released on June 16, the WHO expressed concern over the “significant harm and loss of life” this results in.
Pallium India Chairman Emeritus Dr. M.R. Rajagopal was one of the WHO consulting experts for the document, which explores the extent and causes of global variations in access to morphine for medical use and actions to improve its safe availability.
Pallium India joins hand with the Commissionerate of Health Services, Government of Maharashtra
On the 19th of June 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pallium India and Commissionerate of Health Services, Govt of Maharashtra. Pallium India Trust will be providing technical support to start ideal Palliative care centres in 2 districts of Maharashtra (Pune and Aurangabad) on a pilot basis, also provide education support for virtual and onsite trainings on NPPC Implementation. Pallium India shall conduct in-house training for the nominated officers of Health Dept and also conduct several awareness sessions on Palliative care. Pallium India will guide the District Hospital team to set up Outpatient, In -patient and home based palliative care services. Conduct required training on procuring, stocking and dispensing of opioids for the district officials.
West Bengal Visit & Opioid Availability Workshop
An Opioid Availability Workshop was conducted on the 6th June 2023 in which 100 participants took part, including three Assistant Directors from the Drugs Control Department and National Programme Palliative Care (NPPC) Nodal Officer along with their district officials.
Rontu Sangma, Regional Facilitator NE, Pallium India, writes
Women & Ageing: Invisible or Empowered?
On 14th June 2023, the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, HelpAge India organised the Launch of National Report on “Women & Ageing: Invisible or Empowered?” at India International Centre, Lodhi Estate, Delhi. The event included members of the Helpage India Board, IPSOS representative, government representatives from National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and, most importantly, more than 150 elderly community members. Dr. Preeti Chauhan (Head-National Policy, Pallium India) represented Pallium India at the event.
Pallium India’s work, particularly the geriatric and home based palliative care, was highlighted in the panel discussion and shared with all.
Are you searching for a palliative care course that you can learn at your convenience, without attending classroom- or zoom- based sessions?
Pallium India presents an online self-learning course for nurses & doctors in Palliative Care – ‘Essentials of Palliative Care – India (EPCI)‘ – a course designed to help you learn at your convenience. You have 4 months to complete the course.
(Click on the image to zoom)
Join the course: https://palliumindia.org/essentials-of-palliative-care-india
Contact: learnersupport@palliumindia.org / + 91 85890 21637
Sangeet Sandhya
Please join the musical event “Sangeet Sandhya”, organized by Relief From Cancer, with world-renowned bhajan and ghazal singer Anup Jalota and his orchestra at ICC in Milpitas, California, on Friday, July 14th, 2023.
The funds raised from this event will benefit cancer patients in India through CanKids India and Pallium India.
Read more: https://www.relieffromcancer.org/anupjalota
Contact: Sandip Jariwala at (510) 381 7221 or sandip@relieffromcancer.org
Hearty Congratulations, Dr Naveen Salins!
Dr Naveen Salins has been selected for the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) researcher award for clinical impact.
The EAPC Researcher Awards are designed to recognise the work of researchers and clinicians in the field of palliative care who have recently made, or are currently making, an outstanding contribution to research and clinical practice, public advocacy, policy, or education. The aim is to highlight the individual’s career development and their actual and potential contributions to the field.
Dr Salins is Professor and Head of Palliative Medicine, KMC Manipal and Honorary Professor of Medicine, Cardiff University.
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Ajin’s Home Construction
Many years back, Ajin, an active young man from the coastal areas of Trivandrum dived into the sea for a swim, hit against a rock and became paralysed in all four limbs. Till then crazy about automobiles, his life has not been easy these years.
Right now Ajin and his family are struggling to build a home for himself and his mother.
We at Pallium India walk with him on his difficult journey. Our visitor-medical-student from USA, Abinav Jyotis, has started a crowdfunding program to support Ajin.
Meet Ajin and Abinav and hear what they have to say
Ramp Walkers Turn Showstoppers
During Fashionova 2023, organised by Institute of Fashion Technology Kerala (IFTK), four people living with disabilities, all wheelchair users, turned out to be showstoppers and drew rounds of applause from the audience with their flair and finesse.
The “fashionable clothing is everyone’s right”, message was loud and clear as the four models, beneficiaries of a Pallium India initiative, donned specially-designed attire as part of the bridal wear collection proving easy-wear need not compromise on style.
Join this virtual conference from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. It is for free!
4th Annual US Celebration of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day Conference
Compassionate Communities: Together for Palliative Care
3-4 October 2023
The conference will feature more than 40 faculty members over two half-days and will feature keynote presentations by Dr. M.R. Rajagopal from Pallium India and Pastor Corey L. Kennard from Ascension St. John Hospital.
Visit http://www.mskcc.org/whpcd more information
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day – 14 October 2023
This year World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) will be observed on Saturday, 14 October 2023, with the theme: Compassionate Communities: Together for Palliative Care.
WHPCD is an annual unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. Read to know more about the day and how to get involved: https://www.thewhpca.org/world-hospice-and-palliative-care-day
Video of the Month
Is this palliative care? Of course it is!
Mr. Arlos met with an accident, at the age of 22, which made him paraplegic for life. With the desire to live a life independently, Arlos set up a small shop within his home to earn an income to sustain. The shop has items that excites every child in his neighborhood. They come to buy snacks and candies from the shop. Neighbours also drop in to have a chit chat with Arlos. These conversations and the shop keep him engaged and light-hearted.
(Click on the image to watch the video)
Nevertheless, wheelchair user Arlos faces challenges. The shop he owns has loan liability. His house is not disabled-friendly. The entrance to the house has stairs which is a barrier for Arlos. Keeping his home tidy is another major challenge. A friend of his comes once a while to help him clean. Still the house gathers filth and dirt which negatively affects Arlos’s quality of life.
Recognizing his need, a bunch of SIPC (Students Initiative in Palliative Care) volunteers from ACE College of Engineering, Thiruvallam extended a helping hand by cleaning Arlos’s house. They cleared all the dust and dirt and made the house clean and organized. These volunteers did their bit in making Arlos’s life a little happier with their compassion and a fire to serve people in need of help.
Our future is in great hands. Thank you for reaffirming our faith in humanity, student volunteers of NSS ACE !
Click here to watch: https://youtu.be/c2FDORfRIVc
Subscribe to Pallium India’s youtube channel for videos related to palliative care and our activities. You can watch previous webinars and training sessions, as well as listen to caregivers, survivors and others sharing their experiences.
Renal Palliative Care
Pallium India was fortunate to organise a webinar on renal palliative care.
We were able to bring the stalwart in Nephro care – Dr Frank Brennan (Palliative Care Physician, Department of Nephrology, St George Hospital, Australia) for the session.
“CKD is a burdening problem and often patients suffer silently, I would like to know how to guide the patients with renal failure, and their caregivers to be physically stable and mentally positive with minimum intervention and hospitalisation,” said a participant.
Aphasia Camp 2023
Every year, June is observed as Aphasia Awareness Month.
To commemorate this, Pallium India, along with the unit of Acquired Neuro Communication Disorders, Department of ASLP (Audiology and Speech Language Pathology), NISH (National Institute for Speech and Hearing) conducted Aphasia Camp on 21st and 23rd of June 2023 at Pallium India. The theme of this year’s aphasia awareness month is “TALK ABOUT APHASIA”.
Know Your Disease
Chitra Goyal writes:
“We should hide my father’s disease from him and my mother since they would be completely shattered.” This was my initial thought when we discovered my father had cancer. However, my brother, who had a more mature outlook and better understanding of my parents’ intrinsic strength, convinced me otherwise. In hindsight it was the right decision.
My father, after the initial shock, wanted to fully understand the extent of his disease and was determined to fight it to the best possible extent.
SKIMS Nurse gets National Florence Nightingale award
“In addition to her clinical work, she has authored a booklet on palliative care to benefit students and help them understand the nuances of this specialized field. Remarkably, she accomplished this endeavour without any financial assistance. Furthermore, she has published numerous articles on various healthcare topics throughout her career.”
Palliative Care: Improving Quality of Life
Palliative care is not only end-of-life care. It can be provided from the moment an illness is first diagnosed – irrespective of age, illness trajectory, or prognosis. It includes various forms of support across multiple fronts.
What does palliative care involve and how does it help improve the quality of life of a person with serious health related suffering?
There is an end to cure, There is no end to care!
Vandana Mahajan writes in ehospice:
It all started with a message from a fellow Palliative care colleague “Vandana, a 3-year-old baby has been diagnosed with retinoblastoma with extensive metastasis. She is in need of Palliative radiation to her eye. Will you be able to help her out?”
It was a baby!! And her traumatized parents needed palliative support. How could I have said no? I immediately agreed to do all that I could. But I had no plan in place and didn’t know where to start.
A Doctor Records His Journey In Palliative Care
We envision an India where palliative care is integrated into all health care. The bulk of it will have to be by influencing the health care system where every doctor, nurse, pharmacist and physiotherapist understands the principles of palliative care and makes it part of their work. The National health policy 2017 includes palliative care as a part of primary care. From 2019, all of this is part of the MBBS curriculum. From 2022, it is also a part of the nursing curriculum. We may be closer to realising this wild dream than we believe possible. Will that be enough? Definitely not. What is most needed? You. The most important thing is for the public to be aware and accept the need.
Read: Dr Rajagopal discusses palliative care and his book in this interview with Reshmi Chakraborty.
In Walk with the Weary: Life-changing Lessons in Healthcare, Dr Rajagopal knits his own experiences as a doctor with stories of the unique lives of his many patients, asserting that medicine can bring comfort and security to those at their most vulnerable and provide them the opportunity to not only live healthy lives but to die with dignity.
Get your copy of “Walk With the Weary” here:
Amazon IN: https://www.amazon.in/Walk-Weary-Dr-M-Rajagopal/dp/9393852448
Amazon.Com:
https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Weary-Life-changing-Lessons-Healthcare/dp/9393852448/
Aleph Book Company: https://www.alephbookcompany.com/book/walk-with-the-weary-life-changing-lessons-in-healthcare/
Flipkart: https://www.flipkart.com/walk-with-the-weary/p/itm681283c8fd982
If you have already read the book, please leave a review on the website or email it to us: info@palliumindia.org
Home visit navigation made simpler with MoveInSync
Pallium India’s home care teams visit palliative care patients at their homes five days a week, in different parts of Trivandrum, including the city and the outskirts. Navigating patient visits has been a significant challenge for us, considering the rising fuel costs and increasing kilometers traveled. Seeking a solution, we turned to MoveInSync, a renowned provider of innovative transportation solutions.
MoveInSync’s software helped automate our patient visit system. The navigation feature & routing mechanism provided turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and alternate routes, eliminating stress and ensuring seamless visits. This way, we were able to save precious time and effort, and focus on delivering care. The software generated geo coordinates for precise navigation, optimizing routes and minimizing travel time and distance. Thanks to MoveInSync, we are now able to navigate patient visits seamlessly, ensuring that we continue our mission of making a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.
Patients and families from anywhere in India can call Pallium India’s Telehealth helpline. Health care professionals who need advice on palliative care or pain management can call our numbers.
The service is FREE and available in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil.
Our lines are open from Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4pm
Call: +91 964 588 4889 / +91 860 688 4889
In case of queries, please write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Pallium India maintains a state-wise directory of institutions offering palliative care services in India. The list includes palliative care providers from community-based organisations to tertiary care institutions and cancer care centers.
The directory covers critical information like contact details including phone numbers and email addresses, availability of In-patient, Out-patient and home care services, availability of morphine, etc.
If anyone you know needs palliative care support, our directory will help you find the centre closest to you. Do take a look at Pallium India’s Palliative Care Directory and let us know (Email: info@palliumindia.org or Contact us) if any centre near you is missing.
CAREERS / OPENINGS
For more openings across the country, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
Follow us on Social Media for updates
Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
Events / Courses
4 September 2023
6 weeks Certificate Course for doctors and nurses (CCPPM & CCPN) – at Trivandrum
Doctors and Nurses, join this six weeks certificate course in pain management and palliative care, at Trivandrum.
Start Date: 4 September 2023 (Monday)
Eligibility:
CCPPM: M.B.B.S or BDS with permanent registration with medical / dental council.
CCPN: Any nurse holding a recognised degree or certificate in nursing.
Venue: Pallium India, Aisha Memorial Hospital Building, Paruthikkuzhy, Trivandrum.
Register: https://palliumindia.org/2023/06/ccppm-ccpn-sep4
Contact us: education@palliumindia.org / (+91) 85899 98760
August 3, 2023
10-day Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine – at Trivandrum
Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India, organizes a 10-day Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine for doctors.
Start Date: August 3, 2023 (Thursday)
Eligibility:
M.B.B.S or B.D.S with permanent registration with medical / dental council.
Venue: BDTC Hall, Pallium India, Aisha Memorial Hospital Building, Paruthikkuzhy, Trivandrum.
Register: https://palliumindia.org/2023/05/10-day-foundation-palliative-medicine
Contact us: education@palliumindia.org / (+91) 85899 98760
July 10, 2023
FREE Volunteer Training Program
Pallium India conducts free trainings in palliative care for people interested to become palliative care volunteers. The Volunteer Training Program (VTP) enables participants to understand the basic principles of palliative care including psychosocial care, effective communication, mobilising the community, etc.
Please note: This training is in English
No of Sessions: 5
Start Date: 10 July 2023 (Monday)
End Date: 14 July 2023 (Friday)
Session timing: 5:00 PM- 6:30 PM (IST)
Check out upcoming events: https://palliumindia.org/events
Queries? Contact: info@palliumindia.org
Click here to donate to Pallium India and lend a hand to our activities.
Donations from US can be made online on http://palliumindiausa.org/
For DOMESTIC Transfer:
Beneficiary: Pallium India Trust
Account No: 30086491915
State Bank of India
Branch: Pattom, Trivandrum
IFS Code: SBIN0003355
MICR No: 695002007
For FOREIGN donations:
Account Name: Pallium India Trust
Bank: State Bank of India (code: 00691)
Branch: Delhi
Account No: 40098265669
IFSC Code: SBIN0000691
SWIFT Code: SBININBB104
Queries? Write to info@palliumindia.org or call 97467 45504
After you make a donation, please write to us at donations@palliumindia.org for the receipt. Kindly provide your name, PAN number, contact number and address for us to issue the receipt.
Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen
SAHAYATRA
Sahayatra, Pallium India’s monthly print magazine in Malayalam, is meant for anyone interested in Palliative Care – patients, families, palliative care professionals, volunteers and well-wishers.
Yearly subscription rate for Sahayatra is ₹200. (Only ₹500 if you subscribe for three years.) However, we send Sahayatra free of cost to patients and their families.
To receive Sahayatra monthly magazine by post, please send your complete postal address to info@palliumindia.org. Contact: 97467 45504
Read previous issues of Sahayatra online: https://palliumindia.org/sahayatra
Beyond saving lives
Gopika was paralyzed waist down, in debilitating pain and bedridden for over two years. She was struggling to cope with life. Her marriage had failed, and she was unsure what the future had in store for her. Searing pain marked her daily life.
A chance encounter with Pallium India which resulted in a 3 month long stay at the facility proved life-changing for her. Full-fledged support from the multi-disciplinary team gave her the confidence to move on. They counseled her and empowered her to be more independent, giving her a new lease on life. Today Gopika aspires to be an actor and a model.
PARTING SHOT
An ode to Dr MRR
Dr Deepak Sudhakaran, (Community Medicine & Palliative Medicine professional at Pallium India) wrote these words for Dr M R Rajagopal, Chairman Emeritus, Pallium India. This poem has been published in ehospice India
The ever humble Oh MRR
How indebted we all are
To you and your incredible vision
Which is propelling all of us for a noble mission
To help and alleviate sadness of those unfortunate
Who wished living in happiness but it came too little too late
You proved that mountains can be moved with humility
You showed that there is still space for originality and integrity
I guess it’s because of your all encompassing heart
Which wants to ensure compassion for all to the end from the start
Despite of the many ups and downs you have seen
You constantly nourished those around you whether or not they were keen
There are only countable few who matter to one in this journey of life
You are certainly a soul whose contribution has given many of us a meaningful drive
A drive that’s for the suffering of those all around
A drive that taught each sufferer with CARE and CARESS we must surround
How profoundly their life was touched is what people always remember
How you make countless feel cared for is what you always render
Thank you for showing us how to hear the voiceless and see the deliberately unseen
May the path you have shown kindle a world free of suffering in every way you mean
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