Nagpur: In a bid to spread awareness about hospice and palliative care and to mark the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day which falls on October 13, Snehaanchal Palliative Care has organized a series of events comprising expert lectures, play and interactive session with patients and their families in their Ajani campus on Thursday.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is celebrated throughout the world, every year on second Saturday of October. This is a day of collective worldwide action to celebrate and support and palliative care around the world.
The theme of the day for this year is ‘Palliative Care- Because I Matter’
Speaking to Nagpur Today, founder of Snehaanchal Palliative Care, Jimmy Rana discussed the origin of this initiative, “I was in Bangalore in 2003 when I got a chance to visit a palliative care. Since that movement I’ve decided to offer such help, back in Nagpur. Although it took me 3 years of struggle, to start this organization in Aug 2006, as there was need of education regarding this special form of care.”
Rana also mentioned the much needed assistance of Rastrasant Tukdoji Cancer Hospital, towards this initiative which ultimately helped them to reach this long.
While interacting with gathering, Mona Rai, palliative physician discussed the origin of the theme this year and said this theme comes from a quote by Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of Morden Hospice Movement.
“The theme itself implies that each of us is unique in terms of our body, thoughts, feelings, emotions and sprit and that we need to be heard and cared for until our last breath” said Rai.
While explaining the fundamental thought behind hospice and palliative care, she added, “While facing any serious or life limiting illness, each one of us has a right to live pain free and with dignity till our last breath, and palliative care is one way to assist achieving that mark. However when our time is up, our families will reactive the necessary support, while pass to eternity.”
The event also observed interactive session of cancer patients who defeated their sickness. The hospital staff also performed a play illustrating struggle, support and sacrifices of a cancer patient’s kin.
Dr Renu Ingle from Snehaanchal Palliative Care conducted the event.
Snehaanchal is a registered charitable trust situated in Ajani. It has been proving hospice and palliative care to cancer patients, irrespective of disease stage, since August 2006. The organization has been set up in technical collaboration with Sant Tukdoji Cancer Hospital and Research Centre. Annually about 350 patients receive in-patients care, 150 patients receive home care another 50 receive OPD based care. A multi-disciplinary care team consists of palliative physician, palliative nurses care, psychologist, social workers and volunteers assist the organization achieving their aim. All the services including medical and nursing care, stay and food are provided free of cost. The institution runs on generosity of society at large.
