Palliative Care in Nagaland: Lighting the Path with Compassion and Hope
In a world where healthcare often battles against time, Nagaland is taking strides toward nurturing a different narrative—one of care that transcends medicine. The launch of *Serene Palliative Care*, a compassionate community home-based palliative care initiative, marked a pivotal step in addressing the urgent and underserved need for palliative care in the region. Held at the Sumedem Church Conference Hall in Lengrijan on 26th March 2025, this event brought together a diverse group of healthcare professionals, community leaders, and passionate advocates.
Dr. Obangjungla, the North-East representative of the Indian Association of Palliative Care, delivered an illuminating keynote address on “The Concept of Palliative Care,” outlining its mission: to enhance the quality of life for patients across all age groups facing chronic illnesses, including those in their final chapters. She eloquently described palliative care as a holistic approach that addresses “total pain”—a profound synergy of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual care. Beyond medical treatment, palliative care strengthens family bonds and provides support to caregivers, embodying the essence of human dignity.
However, as Dr. Obangjungla highlighted, Nagaland currently faces a severe gap in palliative care services, with only four to five trained physicians in the field. This underscores the pressing need for more specialists, community awareness, and robust service networks that extend from hospitals to home-based care models. Her call to action, rooted in Matthew 26:35–36(Christian Bible verse), resonated deeply, urging the community to embrace compassion as a shared responsibility.
In a compelling session, Dr. Nepuni Athikho, a palliative care physician from Eden Medical Centre, shared insights from his decade-long journey of building home-based care in Nagaland. His narrative emphasized the evolution of models like Impur Christian Hospital, which was designated a palliative care centre in 2017 and has since been a beacon of training and support.
Rontu Sangma, North-East Facilitator at Pallium India shed light on the pivotal *role of volunteers* in palliative care. He underscored the idea that anyone armed with a spirit of hope and positivity can be a vital force in this collective endeavour. In his words, “Palliative care is not just medical—it is a collective human responsibility that addresses both medical and social challenges.”
His insights painted a vision where communities unite to provide holistic care, ensuring that no individual is left behind in their time of need. His advocacy for palliative care serves as a profound testament to the power of teamwork, the spark of innovation, and the unwavering spirit of resilience in reshaping healthcare narratives, especially in underrepresented and underserved regions.
The program, enriched with speeches from local leaders and concluded with heartfelt prayers, became a clarion call for the establishment of a robust palliative care system in Nagaland. As Nagaland embraces the ethos of palliative care, the message is clear: Compassion is not just a virtue—it is a lifeline, a gift that restores dignity and humanity in the most trying of times.
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