Published on: November 15, 2024

Pallium India, in collaboration with Hakim Sanaullah Specialist Hospital and Haneefa Nursing College, conducted a Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine and Palliative Nursing from 23rd to 28th September 2024. The course was organised at Haneefa Nursing College, Sopore, a small city a couple of hours from the city of Srinagar. This program came to life thanks to the guidance of Dr. Shad Saleem, a visionary who has been practising palliative care in Kashmir for the last three decades.

This six-day program was conducted in a hybrid model, blending onsite and online sessions, designed to cater to a group of 41 doctors and nurses. The program had a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and practical insights. It covered a wide array of topics to enhance the clinical skills of the participants in the field of palliative care. The participants included healthcare professionals from various institutions, with onsite attendees at Haneefa Nursing College connected via live sessions.

Pallium India facilitated expert speakers who delivered their sessions virtually, in additon to local speakers at the venue. The program was inaugurated by Prof. Shad Salim Akhtar, who set the tone for the week with an engaging introduction. Throughout the week, local faculty members from GMC, SKIMS, CSK, and JLNM Hospital played pivotal roles in delivering key content alongside Pallium India’s experts. The participants underwent a structured learning path beginning with a pre-assessment on the first day, which helped the instructors gauge their initial level of understanding. Each day was marked by interactive sessions, role-playing, case discussions, and post-assessment, all culminating in a final exam to qualify for certification.

Kashmir was undergoing State elections at the time of conducting this program. There were stringent security procedures and army convoys on the roads to ensure smooth elections. The faculty travelling from Srinagar covered a distance of 1.5 hours in more than 3 hours one side each day. But this never hampered the spirits of the faculty group. They stayed as energetic and enthusiastic to share their knowledge with the eager participants in the classroom.

Key Achievements of the Course:

• Successfully trained 41 healthcare professionals in the essentials of palliative care.
• Fostered an understanding of the multidisciplinary approach required in palliative care, emphasising the collaboration between doctors, nurses, and social workers.
• Provided practical, hands-on learning through case studies, role-playing, and interactive sessions, which helped reinforce theoretical knowledge.
• Created a platform for participants to interact with both local and national experts, bridging the gap between different healthcare systems and approaches to palliative care.

The Foundation Course proved to be a resounding success. The hybrid format allowed for greater flexibility, enabling participants to benefit from both onsite and online sessions. The program’s collaborative nature and the rich exchange of ideas between local and national experts provided participants with a holistic view of palliative care. With excellent feedback from the participants and notable improvement in their post-course evaluations, this course has set the stage for future initiatives in palliative care education. It is hoped that the knowledge and skills gained by the participants will make a significant impact in improving the quality of life for patients facing life-limiting illnesses.