From the Editors Desk……. “We will be known for ever by the Tracks Dear Friends, We Leave…” The palliative care campaign in owes much of its success thanks to collaborative efforts of the community, students, government, other organizations etc who play a con- structive role in strengthening and supporting the delivery of these services. By contribut- ing their time, energy and expertise, they help and make all the difference! A new mass campaign ‘Because I Care’ has been developed by Students in Palliative Care (SIPC) and IPM jointly. The campaign aims to enhance public awareness and understand- ing of palliative care & mobilize resources for the sustainable development of palliative Let’s make care. This campaign will engage in a variety of activities and programs to help reenergize lives brighter... the community and get more people to support and promote this social cause. Call 8281664752 IPM has also over the years helped to facilitate many new palliative care programs. IPM is the technical advisory agency of an end-of-life care project ‘Sanjeevani’ in Nadia District Announcing (West Bengal), and aims to develop a complete system of care to address the medical, emo- tional and spiritual needs of the patients. Response to the project has been tremendous World Hospice and and more than thousand volunteers took part in the first set of training programs! Palliative Care Day PPCS is also one of the skill partners for the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme and Saturday, is providing training for the Basic Certificate Course in Community Nursing and Palliative October 11 th , 2014 Care (BCCCNPC). 222 students have enrolled for the Course offered in eight centers across the State. Dr Suresh Kumar (Director - IPM) was presented with the Quasi Foundation Award 2014 This is a unified day of for his long and sincere dedication and exceptional contribution in the field of palliative action to celebrate and medicine. Congratulations, your hard work and commitment continues to inspire us all! support hospice and ‘Who cares? We do!’ is the theme of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2014. Join us palliative care around on Saturday, October 11 th , 2014, as we celebrate, support and raise awareness to palliative the world. care.

Thank you, Join us in these Anjali Cherian September 2014 celebrations.

Dr. Suresh receives the Quasi This Award was presented to Dr Suresh Kumar by Shri. Ramesh Chennitala (Home Minister – Kerala Govern- Foundation Award 2014 ment), Chief Guest at this special occasion, on Friday, The Quasi Foundation Award 2014 was given to Dr May 30 th , 2014 at the Malabar Palace (Calicut). Suresh Kumar (Director - Institute of Palliative Medi- Dr Suresh Kumar began his medical career as an anes- cine) for his long and sincere dedication and his excep- thesiologist but switched to palliative care after seeing tional contribution in the field of palliative medicine. the plight of many terminally ill patients due to their lack of knowledge or inability to access proper care. Today an expert in the field of palliative care, he is one of the founding members of Pain & Palliative Care Society (PPCS), a charitable society pioneering the con- cept of palliative care in this region. The Society pro- vides ‘total care’ in palliative care and its ‘volunteer-led’ care system ensures that all needs of the patient, social, psychological or medical, are efficiently addressed.

‘Because I Care’

Students in Palliative Care (SIPC) is an organization of dedi- cated student volunteers from various colleges in and around Students Kozhikode city and was formed after tapping into the abun- displaying dant energy of the young and vibrant student community and ‘Because I Care’ steering it towards palliative care. This association represents Campaign another facet of community participation in palliative care as Posters SIPC works closely with the community and is an integral part of IPM helping it to spread awareness and mobilize fi- nancial and material resources to implement and support various palliative care activities. Volunteers at SIPC have helped to create compassionate communities by caring for been created and were handed over to the Principals bedridden, incurably ill and dying people in the community. of all the colleges. These posters are being placed at A new mass campaign ‘Because I Care’ is being developed by various strategic points in the college to help facilitate SIPC and IPM jointly, to spread awareness about palliative and garner support about the project by spreading care and to mobilize resources for the sustainable develop- awareness. ment of palliative care services. We hope that this will result We would also like to thank Mr. Bijin Krishna for all in the widespread sensitization of the community by getting his help and support towards the ‘Because I Care’ people and resources to support and promote this social mass campaign. Hailing originally from Calicut, he is cause. The entire campaign is being developed by student currently employed as a sub collector in Murshidabad volunteers and the managements of various colleges are being District in West Bengal. Mr. Krishna held an interac- asked to play an active role to ensure that this campaign is a tive session with SIPC students on Saturday, June 21 st , huge success. 2014 where he helped encourage, inspire and motivate They have also been asked to provide one staff member to them to working hard for this campaign. His insights help in the coordination, planning and the execution of the have also helped to plan a better strategy for the cam- campaign. We envision that the success of the ‘Because I paign including its launch, structure etc. Care’ Campaign acts as a basis for other similar projects in This mass campaign will encompass a range of activi- the future. ties or programs helping spread awareness about pallia- Eye-catching & informative posters about the campaign have tive care.

‘Freedom from Pain’

This day-long event was organized by SIPC (Students in campaign by performing a synchronized flash mob Palliative Care) in commemoration of Independence Day dance in coordinated white t-shirts’ and jeans . th on Friday, August 15 , 2014. Aimed at further sensitizing the community and mobilizing resources, student volun-

teers began the day collecting signatures and hand impres- sions on cloth banners to show support to the palliative care movement. At 2p.m. in the afternoon at the entrance of the SM Street, passersby stood enthralled and enthu- siastically cheered on students who sought to pro- mote the palliative care

This was followed by the official launch of the ‘Because I Care’ mass campaign at the Sports Council Hall in Mananchira Square. Baby Fatima inaugurated the program as the Chief Guest. The day ended with a music program.

Page 2 September 2014 ‘Snehathinte Kaiyyoppu’ ‘Snehathinte Kaiyyoppu’ means signature of compassion. Also under the purview of the ‘Because I Care’ cam- paign, around 30 colleges within Calicut city were identified for this program held in the Holy month of Rama- dan. At least 100 students from every college took an active interest and all the students were expected to spread the message about the ‘Tracks We Leave’ Project to at least 10 other families including family members and friends. Spreading this message and collecting donations has helped to sustain the same momentum of the previous years by getting more people involved and bringing more people into the palliative care family. The management and the Principals of all the colleges have also been asked to play an active role and depute one teacher for the efficient and smooth functioning of this campaign.

‘Before I die, I want to…’

Organized between 3.00 – 5.00pm at Focus Mall on July 28th, 2014, the concept for this campaign was born from the knowledge that aspirations and dreams are integral to everyone’s lives. The program began by getting everyone to take a minute and pen down one wish they would like to fulfill before they die. While many of us are fortunate and are able to lay tracks to reach our goals, there are others whose expectations have been shattered and whose dreams can never be The campaign also uses this opportunity to fulfilled. Acknowledging and respecting the plight of create awareness in palliative care and the the bedridden, incurably ill and dying people in the methods by which society can provide some community is the ultimate objective of this campaign. relief to those deprived of their This campaign aims to foster greater understanding dreams. Through the ‘Tracks We Leave’ cam- and empathy and encourages laying a track of com- paign, donors show their support by contrib- passion for those unlucky persons whose life has been uting Rs. 1000 every year for the development marred due to unfortunate circumstances. of palliative care. Fellowship Program in Palliative Care One of the greatest challenges for palliative care in India is the lack of adequately trained manpower in all strata of society. The Fellowship Program in Palliative Care attempts to widen this base by expanding awareness about palliative care. Organized by IPM, this is a one-year advanced program that aims to generate palliative care workers having an in-depth

knowledge on the core issues of palliative care & are well- Dr. Suresh Kumar taking a class for the 1 st Batch of Students versed with recent advances in palliative care and commu- The 1 st Batch of the Fellowship Program in Palliative nity participation at the regional, national and global level. Care ended on May 17 th , 2014. 40 students finished The Course is open to all palliative care workers (volunteers, the course and took the exam. All the students have doctors and nurses) with a minimum one-year experience in passed and 5 students received first class. palliative care.

Change in Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) Secretariat On February 15 th , 2014 at the Annual General Body Meeting of the IAPC in Bhubaneswar (Orissa), Dr. Priyadarshini Kul- karni took over as Hon. Secretary from Dr Anil Kumar Paleri. This change marks the end of Dr Anil Kumar Paleri (Consultant at IPM) long and successful six-year tenure as Secretary and he was duly thanked for all his contributions to IAPC. Dr. Lulu Mathews continues as the Chairperson and Nisha KP as Coordinator of Educational Programs for IAPC. (For further information, please contact: [email protected] )

Page 3 As the crimson sun hid beneath the city’s skyline, Little Miss Sunshine - How Baby became RJ Sarah the sky still awash in the lightest of red, two figures By: Athira Unni – a young man holding a helmet, walking beside a short-haired girl on a wheelchair- could be seen, amidst the sleepy evening shrubs in that desolate park. Many Keralites would identify this as a familiar scene from Director ’s most recent movie Days. However the life of Fathima which inspired the story of RJ Sarah is more lively and interesting than ins who make sure she sunshine who overcomes preneurship and giving the movie version. remains happy and posi- her physical misgivings with back to the community in Fathima also known lov- tive. She could strike up a her pleasant nature. Anjali her own way. She is also ingly as Baby, by everyone conversation with a com- Menon described Baby’s pursuing Bachelors in So- at the Institute of Palliative plete stranger with her smile as the most beautiful cial Work by distance edu- Medicine (IPM) likes to bubbly nature and witty smile in the world. The cation and regularly visits operate her own wheel- tongue, without a shadow character of RJ Sarah was IPM, cracking jokes and chair, so to say. Her rela- of her illness visible on thus born, with many of the helping out with various tionship with the Institute her face. Perhaps it this important factors from campaigns. Among the began when her father talkativeness that made Baby’s life kept intact in- college students of SIPC learned about IPM’s ser- Anjali Menon, give the cluding her array of ever- (Students in Palliative vices and decided his title of a radio jockey to supportive family, cousins Care) she is their very own daughter might benefit Sarah in her movie. and friends. Anjali Menon “Babyitha” and she easily from the compassion and While many have gone had promised Baby that her becomes one of them. genuine care of homely back to the theatre multi- identity would be revealed Always and forever, a Lit- people. But what turned ple times to watch Banga- as a source of inspiration tle Miss Sunshine, Baby out amazed everyone as lore Days, Baby has seen only if Baby liked the movie. continues to be the source Baby became the life and the film only once. She She did and now she of a joyous light, a vision laughter of IPM, embody- shyly shrugs off all the blushes every time someone of hope and happiness to ing something more than “masala” components in playfully asks for her auto- everyone around her. just compassion – an inex- RJ Sarah’s life, claiming graph or treats her like a haustible source of positive that she was simply an celebrity. (Athira Unni is a third energy and fun – that re- inspiration and is not the In spite of the recent atten- plenished the bounty of year student studying in living, breathing version tion due to the movie re- New York (USA). During hope at IPM itself. Baby’s of the movie character. lease, Baby continues her life was so well infused her summer vacation Baby had met Anjali regular sprightly life. She is Athira, volunteers at IPM with the love of her family, Menon by pure chance currently running a clothing especially in activities re- friends and the compassion when the director had business from her own she received from IPM that come to celebrate the home, selling readymde lated to Students in Pallia- she could give forth a tre- success of her previous churidars to her friends and tive Care (SIPC). She is mendous amount of the movie with family and the ladies in her also actively involved in same, through the filter of everyone at IPM. Genu- neighborhood . The lessons the ‘Because I Care’ mass her signature playfulness. inely struck by the young of creating compassionate campaign. You can read She is very fond of her girl’s vibrancy, Anjali communities that she learnt more of her stories brother and his wife who Menon mulled over the from IPM have no doubt currently live in London at: idea of an unconven- aided her in developing this www.tracksweleave.tumblr and her multitude of cous- tional heroine, a piece of neighborhood based entre-

Page 4 September 2014 Sanjeevani – A Palliative Care Project Developing community-based palliative care services in Nadia District (West Bengal)

‘Sanjeevani’ is a commu- nity. panded to the whole dis- Association in Nadia for nity-based end-of-life care The Institute of Palliative trict. undertaking a lead role in project that aims to im- Medicine (IPM) is the The process of selecting, training doctors for the prove the quality of life technical advisory agency training and registering project. of the incurably ill, for the project. Providing volunteers has been com- By integrating palliative chronically bedridden, expertise and assistance, pleted. More than thou- care in public health and elderly and dying people IPM is currently in the sand volunteers took part utilizing financial and hu- in Nadia District (West process of imparting com- in the first set of training man resources efficiently, Bengal). The Project munity-based training, programs! Panchayats will the project aims to address plans to introduce a ‘new guidance in resource have 100 volunteers & mu- the needs of the patients culture of providing care building and all technical nicipalities 150 volunteers, and provide medical, emo- to patients’ by utilizing a help to the doctors, who devote a minimum of tional and spiritual sup- network of physicians, nurses and volunteers. 7 hours/week. The project port to them. nurses and volunteers. ‘Master Trainer’ training hopes to sensitize 25% of This project has been offi- Nadia’s population on is- cially launched in the first sues related to palliative week of September & we care in the next few years. hope that the lives of hun- It also expects that at least dreds of patients and their 2% of the population have families in Nadia District the skills and knowledge to will undergo a qualitative support bed ridden, elderly change and be trans- and dying patients in their formed! neighborhood. Sanjeevani is a participa- Trained community volun- tory project; the active teers will be assisted by a participation of people homecare unit led by a from all sections of the trained nurse who will visit society is vital for its suc- Press Conference to launch ‘Sanjeevani’ bedridden patients regu- cess. Support from the larly. However the advice of media is also required in This project is the brain programs are also being a trained doctor will be sensitizing the community child of three bureau- run to allow volunteers sought in advanced symp- and reaching out to poten- crats, P B Salim (District who have completed this toms relating to clinical tial volunteers and needy Magistrate – Nadia), Bijin training, train other vol- care & we are thankful patients. Krishna (Assistant Collec- unteers. to the Indian Medical tor – Murshidabad) & It is projected that in Amarnath (ASP - South Nadia District alone, an 24 Parganas), all who hail estimated 20,000 patients originally from Kozhi- require palliative care. kode. Keen to start a pal- These include patients liative care program in with advanced cancer, Nadia, they approached elderly and those with Dr Suresh Kumar serious chronic diseases. (Director - IPM). This A pilot project is being project hopes to develop initiated in Krishnagar a system of care wherein Municipality (which has trained volunteers will about 600 patients in provide supportive care need of palliative care) to help reduce the suffer- and one grama pancha- Dr Suresh Kumar with District Magistrate P B Salim (IAS), ing of terminally ill pa- yat. Once established, the Bijin Krishna (IAS), Amarnath (IPS), Shakeela & Saif at tients within the commu- program will be ex- Nadia District (West Bengal)

Page 5 ‘Open Street Mapping’ Additional Skill Acquisition A Students Program Programme (ASAP)

A workshop on ‘Open Street Mapping’ was organized for Global financial trends place India in a position of student volunteers at IPM. Held jointly with SIPC, Inter- dominance in the 21 st -century. The country is set to by national Council for Free and Open Source Software the year 2020, be one of the most important human (ICFOSS) and The Blue Yonder, this workshop was con- resource centers in the world. As much of this depends vened to help the volunteers ‘identify the potential of on improving the quality and standards of the human open source maps in resource mapping and to use them resources, the State of Kerala has commenced on an in extending the service reach of IPM’. ambitious project called Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP). The purpose of ASAP is to serve the needs of the stu- dent community by enhancing their employability. Can- didates will receive sector-specific knowledge and techni- cal skills that will enable them to be employable and industry ready. ASAP aims to bridge the gap between our educational system and job market.

Sajjad Anwar (facilitator) with SIPC students at IPM Around 30 students participated at the workshop facili- tated by Sajjad Anwar, a software enthusiast, activist & coordinator at ‘Geohackers.in’. Students were given an introductory class on community mapping followed by a practical session of open street mapping. The workshop was also attended by Mr. Gopinath Parayil (Founder - ‘The Blue Yonder’), who gave a practical demonstration Students receive training for BCCCNPC of how mapping along River Nila had helped to identify and create more responsible tourism initiatives. Mr. Mo- PPCS is recognized as one of the skill partners of ASAP hammed Saif (Coordinator- Trainers and Researchers and will provide training for the Basic Certificate Pool, IPM), Dr. Suresh Kumar (Director - IPM) and Course in Community Nursing and Palliative Care Shakeela (Coordinator – Resource Mobilization) were (BCCCNPC). Implementation & coordination of the also present. Course curriculum will be run entirely by IPM. This includes preparation of course modules, materials, set- 222222 ndndnd International Conference of Indian Association ting an evaluation system and orienting training units of Palliative Care and trainers. The Course would require 300 hours of February 13 th – 15 th , 2015 work per year plus an internship. A total number of 222 Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh students have enrolled for the Course which is being Theme for the conference ––– ‘Influence, Innovate, offered in eight centers across the State. The centers are: Integrate ––– Pushing the Boundaries..’ GHSS Neyyattinkara & GMBHSS Thycaud For registration and other details, please contact: (Thiruvananthapuram), Govt. College Ambalappuzha Dr Gayatri Palat (Alappuzha), SDC Kanakkary (Kottayam), Govt. College Organizing Secretary – IAPCON 2015 Email: [email protected] & SDC Thenjipalam (Malappuram), Govt.Arts College Website: www.iapccon2015.in (Kozhikode) and Govt. Town HSS (Kannur).

ANNOUNCING IAPCON 2015 More than 600 national and international delegates are expected to attend this Conference hosted by MNJ Institute of Oncol- ogy, Regional Cancer Centre (Hyderabad) & Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society (Hyderabad) jointly. This conference hopes to bring the best from all clinical disciplines & basic researchers connected to palliative care and pain management and join hands with volunteers, civil societies, palliative care activists, policy makers, patients and their caregivers to focus primarily on the influence, innovations and integration of palliative care.

Page 6 September 2014 Thend Fund Anniversary

Celebrations for the 4 th Anniversary of the Thend Fund up as a trust and supports patients in palliative care. was held at the Lecture Hall in IPM on Thursday, July 17 th , Jose Pulimoottil (Coordinator – Footprints) began with 2014. Many who gathered included those who have bene- a welcome speech about Mr. Gopalakrishnan extraordi- fited from the generosity of the Thend Fund and more nary humanitarian efforts. Dr Rajagopal, a close friend than 50 members of the Pain & Palliative Care (PPCS) of Mr. Gopalakrishnan, presided as the Chief Guest on family. Assembled together, they came to honor the amaz- this special occasion. Also present was Dr. Sudha S ing accomplishment of a single person. (Chairman – PPCS), Ali Akbar (Cinema Director) & Mr. Narayan (Thend Fund Trust Member). A spontane- ous but emotive speech was made by the daughter of one of the beneficiaries of the Thend Fund who re- counted how the Fund had supported her mother dur- ing some very difficult times. Thanking everyone for being present, Shri. Gopalakrishnan said that he be- lieved that the Thend Fund would help many more people in the future. Ms. Geetha .M (Secretary - PPCS) concluded with a vote of thanks. Tea and snacks were served to all. Shri. Gopalakrishnan speaking at the Thend Fund ‘Meet A Humanitarian Who Alone Raised More Than Anniversary 10 Lakh Rupees For The Needy In The Most Unique Manner’. This is an interview with Gautam S Kumar for The ‘Thend fund’ (‘Thend’ means ‘to beg’ in ) the online publication of ‘Youth Ki Awaaz’ on November was conceived by Mr. N. Gopalakrishnan, a social worker 26th, 2013. Please view the original article and long time associate of IPM. By literally ‘begging’ for on: http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2013/11/meet- donations from regular ordinary people, the fund has humanitarian-alone-raised-10-lakh-rupees-needy-unique- grown in size, far beyond expectations. The fund now set manner/

Mohammed Saif is a ‘Yatripreneur’

draws on the active involvement of the young and vi- brant student community in various palliative care pro- grams. Today SIPC has more than 4000 student volun- teers from over 30 colleges within Kozhikode District who are engaged in a wide range of activities including spreading awareness, rehabilitation, homecare, training and support, mobilizing resources etc for the bedrid- den, the incurably ill and dying people. SIPC has also been instrumental in developing many successful support projects with IPM. ‘Tracks We Leave’ is a project that aims to develop a global commu- nity in support of palliative care and ‘Because I Care’ a new mass campaign to sensitize the community about On Wednesday, August 13 th , 2014 at 8:00 pm, Moham- palliative care. SIPC is also helping to raise funds for med Saif ( Co-founder – SIPC) was invited to be a guest the ‘24*7 Home Care Project’ and many students’ vol- on the 16 th episode of the ‘Meet the Yatripreneur’ series. unteers are also involved with the Footprints Rehabili- This series aims to expose the Indian youth to the con- tation Project. cept of ‘social entrepreneurship and social progress through enterprise led development’. The SIPC movement is emerging as a silent social revo- A member of the Yatri community since 2010, Moham- lution as student volunteers show a strong sense of re- med Saif is also a cofounder of Students in Palliative sponsibility and help to create compassionate commu- Care (SIPC), an initiative launched by IPM in 2010 that nities!

Page 7 ‘Food for Patients’ Program

PPCS was founded with the aim to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people requir- ing end of life care. Our hope is to make ‘every moment count’. At PPCS, patients have free access to our inpatient and outpatient services & homecare. Medicines are provided free and patients admitted to the inpatient unit are given free food. Long Term Sponsorship Help patients on a special day…… every year, for ‘The Next 25 Years’. Full Day Food P Rs. 25000 Breakfast P Rs. 9000 Lunch P Rs. 10000 Dinner P Rs. 7000 Single-Day Food Full Day Food P Rs. 2400 Breakfast P Rs. 750 Lunch P Rs. 1000 Dinner P Rs. 650 Your donation can really make a difference. Make it in memory of someone you love!!

‘Light up a Life’

Every year tends to bring reflection and resolution to mankind.

We all in our own way recognize the contributions we can make in achieving the ideals humanity hungers for. If you can in any way contribute to satisfying our hunger, the hunger for a better quality of life for people in pain, we would really love to hear from you.

No matter how small your gesture, we can promise you that it will make a difference to fellow human beings aching to live their last days in dignity. Financial contributions, donations of re- sources and even your time are all ways in which we seek your help.

If you can Respond to us on 0495 2354897/2351248 Or by writing to

The Secretary PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE SOCIETY MEDICAL COLLEGE (PO) CALICUT 673 008, KERALA, INDIA.

Printed and published by Ms. Geetha M, Secretary, Pain & Palliative Care Society. For Private Circulation Only. Donations to the Pain and Palliative Care Society are exempt from Income Tax under section 80 (G)