May 2024
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the May 2024 edition of Pallium India’s newsletter. If you are a new subscriber, thank you for joining us. Here you can find updates from the palliative care world, upcoming events including trainings for professionals and volunteers, interesting articles, career opportunities and so on.
Ask your friends to sign up! Don’t miss any updates! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter
Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen:
Kuttikkoottam Summer Camp 2024 begins
Kuttikkoottam Summer Camp 2024 for children was inaugurated on April 29, 2024 at Mitra Niketan, Thiruvananthapuram. The 3-day camp, which includes career guidance programs, life skill development, indoor & outdoor games, art therapy, a visit to the beach, and more, will conclude on May 1, 2024.
Kuttikkoottam comprises a group of children from families that receive palliative care. Pallium India provides educational support and guidance to these children. Every year a three-day camp is organised during the summer holidays by the volunteers and staff of Pallium India, and it is an event eagerly awaited by the students as well as the organisers.
Read more: https://palliumindia.org/our-work
Follow us on Facebook to see more pictures: https://www.facebook.com/palliumindia/posts/832221642274221
Rithu: The Evergreen Season of Love and Care
Nincy Mariam Mondly (Psychologist, Pallium India) writes:
Working in palliative care means working closely with persons having life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions. Through these interactions you realize that it is not persons, rather families who suffer from these conditions, where ‘suffering’ is not only due to the physical illness or disability but also because of several other reasons. This pain and suffering is more overwhelming, especially for parents when children are the bearers of such debilitating conditions. For these parents, every day becomes a battle, fighting a despair that others cannot even begin to comprehend. It is only natural that they often feel lonely and helpless.
Empowering Children, Educating Communities, Ensuring Health!
Mr. Sibin Satheesh (Pediatric social officer, Pallium India) writes:
Pallium India hosted a Children’s medical camp on 23rd April 2024 in VMJ convention centre, in association with VMJ UP School, Thiruvananthapuram.
The event was attended by more than 36 children and their parents.
Congratulations to the winners of International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Individual Recognition Awards!
The International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC) has announced the winners of the 2024 Individual Recognition Awards.
Congratulations, Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar, Dr. Mostofa Kamal Chowdhury and Ms Heather Huizinga!
Congratulations to Syam Kumar S S, on achieving the world record for being the “Youngest Paragliding pilot with prosthetic leg”, at 23 years old.
Perspective is everything. Syam Kumar tells us his story (English subtitles): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lQoms-t9PU
Watch this video (in Malayalam) about Syam’s dreams, and how his Mother supports him in achieving them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfRD9KrbLS0
Syam has been Pallium India’s co-traveller for several years. Our volunteers certify that “Sheer will power, the inner urge to do something differently and boundless courage has led him to this level.”
You inspire us, Syam. Congratulations and Best Wishes from all of us at Pallium India!
Events / Trainings / Conferences
6 weeks Certificate Course for doctors & nurses at Trivandrum
October 7, 2024
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
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2024
October 12, 2024
The theme is, “Ten Years Since the Resolution: How are we doing?”
SIPC Collection Drive
CAREERS
Openings at Pallium India
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
‘Volunteers are our solace’ – palliative care in Kerala.
In the early 1990s, a palliative care movement began in Kerala, in Southern India, with a mission to help people in need of palliative care. Now, almost 60% of the population in Kerala has access to palliative care compared to 2% in India as a whole.
Pratibha Pal writes in the EAPC blog.
Lancet study on breast cancer: How early diagnosis and understanding relapse can help women
“[] women get left behind despite breast cancer being the world’s most common cancer and significant improvements in research and treatment,” says Dr Chatterjee, a co-author of the new Lancet Breast Cancer Commission report on gross inequities in detection, outreach and care of patients. The panel calls this apathy a global blunder and has set out recommendations to tackle it.
Art can not just mesmerise, but also heal
Art therapy can be used to support treatment for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. It has been linked to benefits including improved self-awareness, social connection and emotional regulation, while lowering levels of distress, anxiety and even pain scores.
Deaths foretold
A 46-year-old cancer patient from Uttarakhand was admitted to Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) on March 16. He died on March 30. Over March 28-29, AIIMS, Safdarjung and GB Pant refused him treatment. He returned to DSCI, and died hours later. What the patient faced in his last hours, the trauma his wife went through, and Delhi govt’s statement on the tragic incident, all bring into sharp and painful focus everything that’s wholly wrong, brutal and callous, in the state of emergency care and end-life care across hospitals.
Awareness session for Pharmacy students
Dr. Hashmath Farhaana S (Associate Programmes, Dept. of Education and Skill Building, Pallium India) writes:
Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India, conducts awareness sessions on Palliative care regularly at various schools and colleges.
Since March 2024 we have been conducting awareness sessions at the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. And it was my utmost privilege to talk about palliative care for B-Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) and D-Pharm (Diploma in Pharmacy) students on April 6th and 20th, respectively.
Around 100 students attended the session; the group was really vibrant and very interactive.
Opioid Availability Workshop in Bihar
Pallium India organized an opioid availability workshop for the state of Bihar facilitated by Dr M R Rajagopal, on Oct. 19th, 2023.
Mr. Ghanshyam Bhagat, the State Drug Controller, and Dr. Amal, the Drug Inspector from Bihar, together with the Principal and Superintendent of JNKTMC, Madhipura, and ANMMCH, Gaya, were among the attendees at the event.
Approximate 38 participants including doctors and paramedical staff from different districts of Bihar participated in the workshop.
Exploring scope of collaboration in Palliative care, in Goa
Goa is a tiny tourist state located in the western region of India, well-known for its stunning beaches, rich culture and delicious cuisine. From the vibrant beaches of North Goa to the tranquil backwaters of South Goa, the sunny state attracts a lot of tourist throughout the year.
From 19th to 25th Feb 2024, Pallium India’s Regional Facilitator, Ms Sunanda Samal, was in Goa to visit some of our stakeholders.
Sunanda shares:
“The visit to South Goa Medical College was a great opportunity to understand how the Government works in sync with an NGO in delivering home-based palliative care.
Meeting the Novi Survat NGO team was an extremely wonderful experience on how they take care of children through facility-based as well as home-based palliative care. IMA Ponda’s DILASA Hospice & Directorate of Health Services visit has opened up new collaboration possibilities. The home visit with Dr Ira’s team was quite an eye opener.
Over all the visit was fruitful and has opened up new scope for partnership to strengthen the Palliative care services within Goa.”
Orientation Session for Himachal Pradesh
In a collaborative effort aimed at fortifying palliative care provisions in Himachal Pradesh, Pallium India spearheaded an enlightening orientation session for the National Health Mission-Himachal Pradesh (NHM-HP). Attended by 54 participants, including doctors and district program officers, this session served as a catalyst for advancing palliative care initiatives across the state.
Dr. Gopal Chauhan, the NPPC Program Officer of NHM-HP, graced the event, underscoring the commitment of the health mission to prioritize palliative care initiatives. The session witnessed enriching lectures delivered by esteemed speakers renowned in their respective fields
Training for Pulmonologists
We are delighted to share that Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India, has launched Essentials of Palliative Medicine For Pulmonologists (EPMP), a training exclusively for Pulmonologists, on 18 April 2024.
37 participants from various states of India and other countries will undergo training for 11 weeks, the curriculum of which will cover Respiratory Symptom Management, Pain management, communication skills, End of life care and Pulmonary rehabilitation along with case-based discussion with prescription writing exercise.
It was an honor to have two eminent faculty members Dr Rajam Iyer and Dr Sujeet Rajan join us for the inaugural session, enriching the event with their invaluable expertise and insights. Their contributions added depth and significance to our program, providing attendees with a unique learning experience.
Walk with the Weary
“Whether one is practicing Palliative care or not, whether one is from India or not, whether one is related to health care or not, I believe this is a must-read book.” – Spandana Rayala writes
Get your copy of “Walk With the Weary” (Available in Paperback and Kindle formats, globally)
Amazon IN
Amazon.Com
If you have already read the book, please leave a review on Amazon or send it to us: info@palliumindia.org
Follow Pallium India on Social Media
Video of the Month
Why choose palliative care – Akkineni Nagarjuna explains
Click here to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uq9HGs7T3Y
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.
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.
The next academic year begins in June. This is the right time to donate & support our children’s education program.
Many of the children we support come from families that are ravaged by diseases. Our program ensures that they do not drop out of school, despite financial hardships arising from treatment costs.
Together, we can make a difference.
Donate Now!
Donate to Pallium India and lend a hand to our activities.
Donations from US can be made online at http://palliumindiausa.org/
For More about Palliative Care – Follow us on Instagram
PARTING SHOT
Lessons in Compassion, from a Palliative Care Pioneer
“I am going for a home visit this afternoon,” said Dr M R Rajagopal, to my friend Pallavi and me. “Want to come?”
Of course we did!
The teacher’s presence is enough for a learning to commence, they say. I witnessed this first hand at Pallium India when I had the good fortune to share space with our beloved Dr Rajagopal, Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India, the pioneer of palliative care movement in Kerala.
We sit next to him in the van, as he chats away, asking sundry questions and making us comfortable, and also points out to us the important government buildings and landmarks that we pass by.
That was the first lesson that I learnt: To be humble enough to touch the most common.
Dr Asha Deshmukh, who visited Pallium India, writes in ehospice India about her home visit experience with Dr Rajagopal and the lessons learnt. Continue reading >>
Follow us on Social Media for updates
Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
Thank you for reading our newsletter. Read previous issues here
Don’t miss any updates! Subscribe to receive our monthly newsletter via email: https://www.freelists.org/list/palliumindia
Have feedback? Let us know. Write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Comments are closed.
