February 2024
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Global Fellowship in Palliative Medicine
Congratulations to Pallium India’s first batch of Global Fellowship in Palliative Medicine (GFPM) participants, who have completed the course with flying colours!
24 Fellows, comprising the first batch (2023-2024) have successfully completed their course in December 2023. There were 4 international fellows (UK, Dubai, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago) and 20 national from different parts of India.
WHO SEARO workshop on expanding availability and access to palliative care
The WHO SEARO (South East Asia Regional Office) hosted a workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 11-13 October, 2023 in an attempt to assist nations in making palliative care a top priority in their policies and to improve their ability to develop and carry out palliative care programmes.
The WHO South-East Asia Regional workshop on expanding availability and access to palliative care was attended by officials from health ministries of 7 countries in the region and representatives from 7 WHO country offices. In addition, 10 experts were invited to contribute to the proceedings. Smriti Rana from Pallium India and Dr. Suresh Kumar from Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode were amongst the experts.
WHO praises Kerala and Telangana for their approach in caring for the terminally ill
Two Indian states, Kerala and Telangana, have received praise from the World Health Organization (WHO) for their exemplary palliative care model — a specialised healthcare approach focusing on alleviating symptoms and stress related to serious illnesses.
The WHO’s report, titled “Expanding Availability and Access to Palliative Care”, presented by palliative care experts from Southeast Asia, specifically lauds Kerala for its community-driven palliative care initiatives, and Telangana for the collaborative efforts between the state government and civil society organisations.
New Pediatric OP at Child Development Center (CDC)
As part of integration of palliative care into pediatrics, Pallium India has started a Pediatric supportive care Outpatient (OP) clinic at Child Development Center (CDC) near SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
The OP was inaugurated on 17 January, 2024 at CDC Hall, organised by CDC with the support of Pallium India, with lighting of the lamp, followed by cutting of the ribbon.
This OP will be open twice a month (1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month) from 9.30 am – 12 noon. It aims to cater to the palliative care and counselling needs of pediatric palliative care patients.
Video of the Month
Pallium India from 2003 to 2023 – The Journey So Far
Click here to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o6t0UGs49o
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.
Registrations invited for the ‘2.5 kms Walk for Palliative Care’ during IAPCON 2024
The walk, organised by the Sanjeevani – Life Beyond Cancer and the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, 11th February, 2024. It is organised with an objective to raise awareness about palliative care among the general community.
All registered conference delegates are welcome to participate in the walk. Those interested to participate in the walk will need to however register separately (at no additional cost) by submitting their details in this form: http://tinyurl.com/2kwbk6e9
The 31st Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2024) is an in-person conference which will be held at the Auditorium, Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from Friday, 9th February, 2024 to Sunday, 11th February, 2024. The Pre-conference workshops are slated for Thursday, 8th February, 2024.
Please visit the conference website for further details: https://www.iapcon2024.com
Congratulations, Dr Ravi Kannan!
CNN-News18 Indian of The Year 2023
Dr Ravi Kannan, the renowned oncologist, who left Chennai in 2007 and took over as director of a small charitable cancer hospital in Assam’s Silchar to serve the community, is the CNN-News18 Indian of The Year 2023 in the social change category.
Ida B. Scudder Hospice opened in Vellore
Home Based Care Conference (HBC CON) 2024
Cancer Survivor helps children with cancer across India
A cancer survivor starts a new journey with the motive of helping those who suffered like her. Within a year, she headed a great organization: CanKids KidsCan.
The 2024 Pledge4Action to Improve Availability of Controlled Medicines
The IAHPC advocacy programme is in full swing preparing for the Ministerial and regular sessions of the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna,
Incoming chair His Excellency Philibert Johnson of Ghana, has launched the Pledge4Action Initiative to mobilise Member States’ commitment toward concrete, impactful actions that address the key challenges outlined in the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.
Katherine Pettus writes in ehospice. Read more >>
Kudumbashree to play an active role in palliative care
More than 3,00,000 Ayalkkoottams (neighbourhood groups) under the Kudumbashree Mission are gearing up to play an active role in the Statewide campaign to offer palliative care services to bedridden patients and their families.
The Essence of Palliative Care: Lessons from a 30-Year Journey in Kerala
Kerala’s unparalleled example of bringing quality care to patients at their doorsteps has attracted attention on a global basis, but the reality is that Kerala still has a long way to go in the field of palliative care.
Saif Mohammed writes in ehospice. Read more >>
A workshop on opioid accessibility for the state of Chhattisgarh
Opioid Availability Workshop for Union Territory of Delhi
Drug Controller of J&K talks about opioids availability for pain relief
Inauguration of Certificate Program in Palliative Care and Supportive Care, organised by Christ Nagar college, Maranalloor and Pallium India
National Flag unfurled at Pallium India on Republic Day
Paediatric Palliative Care O.P
Pallium India’s Paediatric Palliative care Out patient unit is open on all Saturdays at Pallium India, Paruthikkuzhy, Thiruvananthapuram
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact: 90721 01193
Evening Special Home Care
Pallium India’s Evening Special Home Care (ESHC) would be available from 2PM to 8 PM. A nurse and a palliative care assistant constitute ESHC team.
The intention of ESHC is to cater to the emergency needs of patients who are registered with us, while the regular home visit team is doing scheduled visits.
If anyone you know needs palliative care support, please reach out to us: +91 964 588 4889
Walk With The Weary: Life-changing Lessons in Healthcare
“It’s a beautifully written book, that answers a lot of questions – the whats, whys, whens and hows – regarding the Palliative Care system in India, and the due respect that should be accorded to a pain-free life and comfortable death for patients suffering from non curable diseases. Along the way, the reader will find quotes so moving, by Dr Rajgopal, that they might have the urge to print, frame and keep forever.
A book that I know I’ll keep coming back to, at multiple points in my life.”
– BNSarangi
Get your copy of “Walk With the Weary” (Available in Paperback and Kindle formats, globally)
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/
If you have already read the book, please leave a review on the website or email it to us: info@palliumindia.org
Events / Trainings / Conferences
2024 Palliative Care Congress
The Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland (APM) host the Palliative Care Congress on an annual basis. PCC events attract over 500 delegates from around the world from a diverse multidisciplinary background.
21 – 22 March, 2024
Smriti Rana, Head – Strategic Programs & Partnerships, Pallium India, is one of the speakers.
Opening Plenary: Mind the Gap – Perspectives and reflections from Palliative Care in the Global South
Registration: https://pccongress.org.uk/registration/
For more information about the Congress, visit https://pccongress.org.uk/
Last date extended! Register NOW!
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), a WHO Collaborative Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief under Pallium India, have partnered together to develop a Certificate Course in Palliative Care (CCPC) for doctors.
Eligibility:
MBBS with minimum 3 years of clinical experience
Last date to register: 15 February 2024
Certificate Course at Trivandrum
We invite doctors and nurses to join this six weeks certificate course in pain management and palliative care, at Trivandrum.
The participants will get to take an active part in Pallium India’s inpatient, out patient and home visit programs, as well as in events and celebrations at Trivandrum, Kerala.
Doctors: MBBS or BDS
Nurses: Any recognised degree or certificate in nursing
Start Date: 4 March 2024 (Monday)
Essentials of Palliative Medicine for Pulmonologists
This training program focusses on integrating the principles of palliative care into Pulmonology practice, with special focus on Chronic Lung Diseases.
Eligibility:
Pulmonologists, Residents in Pulmonology
Start Date: 18 April 2024 (Thursday)
Follow Pallium India on Social Media
Nurturing The Nurturers: A Self-Care Guide for Palliative Care Providers
Caring for those struggling with long-term illnesses or conditions is rewarding and demanding. No one knows this better than those working in palliative care. As dedicated professionals, you offer support, comfort, and compassion to patients and their families, but you tend to neglect your health in the bargain.
For More about Palliative Care – Follow us on Instagram
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.
Donate to Pallium India and lend a hand to our activities.
Donations from US can be made online at http://palliumindiausa.org/
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
Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen
PARTING SHOT
Bridging the gap between medicine and humanity
My first visit was to a bedridden patient who had a stroke, and the only caregiver was her husband. I fidgeted and was uncomfortable, waiting for the nurse, Keerthi, to check the vitals, administer the medicines for the month, and move on to the next patient. I mentally calculated it would take five to ten minutes.
Instead, Keerthi pulled a chair, asking me to sit, while she sat next to the patient on the bed, holding her hand. What followed was 45 minutes of conversations between Keerthi and the family, her gently admonishing the patient for not cutting her nails, and magically, a nail cutter emerged from her bag, and she clipped the nails. I never thought this level of compassion would exist in anyone.
Pratibha from Pune, who spent three weeks with Pallium India, writes about her experiences in The News Minute: Click here to read
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