Nagaland observes World Hospice & Palliative Care Day

Nagaland Chapter of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was observed on Saturday at AIDA, Don Bosco School, Dimapur. The programme was jointly organised by Serene Palliative Care, Eden Medical Centre, St. Joseph’s Pain and Palliative Care Home, and Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR).
Delivering a message, guest of honour and Editor-in-Chief, Nagaland Post, Geoffrey Yaden spoke on his observations on palliative care and highlighted its core aspect of compassion, which he said, can contribute holistically to medical care for both young and old.
He said in today’s society and unlike in the past, most families are busy and are unable to provide full time in caring for the ailing members of their families. In this regard, he said the need for palliative care assumes importance. In order to fill the need, he said creating awareness and promoting palliative care is vital as it has been long overlooked.
In order to create make impact on awareness as well as promotion of palliative care, Yaden suggested that it could be inculcated as an optional skill subject in educational institutions and also recognised and taken up as a ministry in churches.
As concepts and programmes are mostly urban-centric, Yaden suggested that the state government take up palliative care in rural areas in schools and by churches where treatment facilities are lacking. He said the government could facilitate training programmes and certification in rural areas to those become qualified and to also provide some stipend.
On his part, Yaden offered to highlight palliative care in the media and also suggested spreading it through social media etc.
Earlier, speaking on the topic “What is Palliative Care”, HoD and Consultant, Palliative Medicine, CIHSR, Dr. Tony Vikas Bishwas, explained that Palliative Care is an approach that improves the quality of life for patients facing serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, or neurodegenerative conditions.
He clarified that Palliative Care is not limited to end-of-life situations, pointing that “Starting Palliative Care only when a patient is dying is starting too late”.
He also dispelled the misconception that receiving Palliative Care means giving up on treatment. Rather he said palliative care emphasises on the uplift of mental and spiritual well being of the patient.
Dr.Obangjungla of Serene Palliative Care, speaking on “Home-based Palliative Care”, highlighted the growing need for care of those in need especially the old and infirm and community-driven home-based services in the state.
Dr.Obangjungla shared how she took up Palliative Care after retirement during March this year, in order to give something back to society. She further enunciated that Palliative Care focuses on comfort, dignity, and family-centred support in the familiar environment of one’s home. She further explained that such care not only relieves symptoms and emotional distress but also reduces hospital expenses and caregiver burden, involving family members, doctors, nurses, and volunteers.
Highlighting initiatives of the state government, Joint Director & State Programme Officer, Kohima, Dr. Kezo, informed that the state had recently joined the National Programme for Palliative Care, adding that currently of six units approved for the state, only one at Kohima and plans are afoot to establish the five in other districts. He also informed that St Joseph’s St. Joseph’s Pain and Palliative Care Home at Chümoukedima is the first to be fully functional while more are at various stages of development. Dr Kezo also informed that 37 Medical Officers have been trained in Palliative Care, while similar training programmes for nurses were on the pipeline.
Also delivering overview of Pallium India, North East Coordinator, Rontu Sangma informed that Pallium India, founded by Padma Shri awardee Dr. M.R. Rajagopal, operates under the D.E.F. model- Demonstration, Education, and Facilitation and also serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre as well as a member of the UN ECOSOC.
Dwelling on “Palliative Care Verses”, Senior Consultant, Palliative Medicine & Geriatric Medicine, Eden Medical Centre, Dr. N. Athikho read poems and verses composed by patients, reflecting the hope and peace they found through palliative care.
Earlier, the programme was chaired and invocation offered by Chaplain, Eden Medical Centre, Glory Merry, welcome address delivered by Physicist, Eden Medical Centre, Eunice, while Rev. Fr. Chacko Karinthayil of St. Joseph’s Pain and Palliative Care Home, Chümoukedima, delivered the vote of thanks and benediction.