NAPCAIM Punjab Chapter

Under the guidance of Dean and President NAPCAIM Punjab Chapter Dr A P singh, Screening of the Film by Moonshine Agency, Victoria, Australia for creating awareness on Cervical Cancer on World Cancer day was done by Team of Sri Guru Ram Das Hospice....Its a time to Come together and advocate for a Cancer free future. and What better than to do this than by getting behind the movement to eliminate the world's first cancer- Cervical Cancer - for the next generation...

Two home visits done to convince the caregivers of this patient to bring him to the hospital for specialist consultation and physiotherapy. He is a 47 year male from Loharka village (from the area covered by Sri Guru Rm Das Hospice), who is bed-ridden. He is having polio in his left leg and from last 6 months he is having weakness and stiffness in his right arm and leg. According to his wife, he had an ‘attack’ 6 months back and was unable to move his right side, but because of pandemic situations and financial problem, he was not given any treatment. The only source of income for the family is a small shop of grocery in the house only where his old father was sitting who was also having hearing problem. He is having 2 sons 15 and 18 years old but not working. Wife was slight irritable as she was like fed up of the situations and accepted that he will never recover now. When I asked the patient to hold my hand, there was power. He even tried to move his arm and leg but there were contractures. I tried to counsel his wife that with physiotherapy, he may improve. I asked some of our staff members at rural health centre to accompany the patient to the SGRD hospital and Dr Harjot Singh arranged his consultation there. A small effort with a team which may help him. Our plan is to teach his wife small exercises and staff from our hospice can help her. A small improvement to an extent that he can sit in his shop to earn his family’s livelihood will be rewarding. Just a Koshish………..let’s see………

Counseling and patient listening to the elderly who are lonely works like an eraser....

Volunteers are recognized as the third resource for palliative patients alongside with professional care and family care. They do not replace them. Volunteers have their own special place and their specific role in that care. Besides the volunteers who will be directly with the patient and the family, volunteers who are involved in organizing, fundraising, promotion and various other roles are also important. In order to help volunteers to play their role and to make this assistance sustainable, it is important to have volunteer organizator (manager) that links all three care resources (family, professionals and volunteers).

Dr Paramjot Bindra emphasized on Importance of Volunteers in Palliative Care.... Which is need of Hour

Jyoti Jayan Warrior shared her practical experience of being Volunteer in Palliative Care.... It was wonderful experience..... Thanks for sharing your experience mam...

“Blessed is the society that has oldies.”
Home visit done for a patient “Nagina Singh” 85 years old. On my first visit patient was depressed, had bed sore and his daughter -in-law was complaining that he doesn’t listen to anybody and keeps on lying in bed straight. There was history of irrelevant talk in between and patient was on treatment from a psychiatrist in a private hospital. We talked to the patient, counselled him to sit and keep on changing side and bed sore dressing done.
On my 3rd visit today, I was amazed that the patient was sitting on his bed, talked to us about old times when he was working as a head teacher. He said the he has qualified “Gyani” of his old times which was equivalent to B. Ed. And one could become a Punjabi teacher after this degree. He was happy and his daughter in law said that his diet has improved and bed sore has also healed. He enquired about his BP and said that pain and swelling in his feet is better now. He said that we are doing great work and shaked hand with me while laughing. I had a feeling of great achievement and realised that my visit to this house is fruitful.

If you want to travel quickly, go alone. But if you want to travel far, you must go together”. African proverb. The delivery of palliative care is often complex and always involves a group of people, the team, gathered around the patient and those who are close to them. Effective communication and functional responsive systems of care are essential if palliative care is to be delivered in a timely and competent way. Creating and fostering an effective team is one of the greatest challenges for providers of palliative care. Teams are organic and can be life giving or life sapping for their members.
Networking in Palliative Care by Dr Harjot Singh

Traditionally, palliative care has focused on patients suffering from life-threatening somatic diseases such as cancer or progressive neurological disorders. In contrast, despite the often chronic, severely disabling, and potentially life-threatening nature of psychiatric disorders, there are neither palliative care units nor clinical guidelines on palliative measures for patients in psychiatry.
Dr Piyush Mahajan emphasized on importance of Psychiatry in Palliative Care..... Thanks Sir for sharing your words of wisdom....

Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences and National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine (NAPCAIM) organized “The Palliative Care Conference” at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar on the occasion of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The conference was endorsed by Cancer Fight Global, USA. The theme for the conference was “Leave no one behind, Equity in access to Palliative Care.” Palliative care is the holistic approach to serve the people of chronic and life limiting illnesses. Main goal is to provide comfort to the patient as well as the caregivers.
Dr. Baljit Kaur, Assistant Director, Health Services Punjab, was the Chief Guest for the occasion. She emphasized the role of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in providing compassionate care and support to the people suffering from Leprosy at those times.
The Keynote address was delivered by Dr Katherine Pettus, Senior Advocacy Director, International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care, USA on the topic “Role of Advocacy in Palliative Care” and by Dr Gregorio Zuniga, Assistant Professor, Deptt. of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Canada on the topic “Equity in Pediatric Palliative Care”.
Dr. Bhupinder Singh Walia, Member of Punjab Medical Council was present on the occasion and motivated the organizing team for arranging the conference on the much-required subject of palliative care.
Dr. Abhijit Dam, President NAPCAIM and Dr Piyush Gupta, Secretary NAPCAIM shared their views about the importance of palliative care which is the continuum of care and improves the quality of life of the patients as well as the family. Dr Amarjodh Singh and Dr Bhajneek Kaur Grewal from United Kingdom enlighted us on Topic Sikh religion and Palliative Care.
Dr. Daljit Singh, Vice Chancellor, SGRD University of Health Sciences, Amritsar, Dr. A.P. Singh, Dean, SGRD University of Health Sciences and President NAPCAIM Punjab Chapter and Dr. M.S. Uppal, Director Principal of SGRDIMSAR congratulated Dr. Harjot Singh and the whole team of NAPCAIM, Punjab Chapter for their efforts and shared their views on the need of Palliative care in the present times when there is health transition with rising incidence of cancers and other chronic illnesses.
The convocation function was also held on the occasion and 65 degrees were awarded to those who completed their Fellowship in Palliative Care.
On the occasion were present Dr. Paramjot Bindra, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Dr. Manisha Nagpal, Dr. Pooja Sadana and Dr. Amrit Pal Singh Brar.

Advocacy for health policy is defined as “the processes by which the actions of individuals or groups attempt to bring about social and/or organization change on behalf of a particular health goal, program, interest, or population.
Health advocacy includes educating policymakers and the public about evidence-based policy.”

Palliative care advocacy is strongest when it includes the voices of direct stakeholders, those who deliver and receive essential services, and can testify, witness to the vast unmet need for palliative care.
The IAHPC advocacy program partners with other palliative care organizations committed to including the voices of direct stakeholders.
We were very fortunate to Have Dr Katherine Pettus, IAHPC’s Senior Advocacy Director who gave Keynote Address on Palliative Care Conference Held at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar.
On Behalf of SGRD University of Health Sciences And NAPCAIM Punjab Chapter
I take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt thanks for enlightning audience from Spain on World Hospice and Palliative Care .
Your presentation unfolded the mystery of advocacy in very simple creating interest in participants and .
We look forward To fruitful collaborations in Future.

Dr Piyush Gupta Secretary NAPCAIM enlightened us on laws related to Availability of Morphine in India.
# Palliative care # Home Based Palliative care # Punjab Hospice # Hospice # WHPCD21

Punjab’s First Home Based Palliative Care Centre at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar

Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences and National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH & Integrative Medicine (NAPCAIM) Launched Sri Guru Ram Das Home-Based Palliative Care at Rural Health & Training Centre, Mallunangal on the occasion of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The centre is first of its kind in Punjab.
Dr Abhijit Dam said that Specialist home care services are intended to improve symptom control and quality of life, enable patients to stay at home and avoid unnecessary hospital admission. He said this is also a very good way to serve the rural poor community. It will improve bereavement outcomes and caregiver satisfaction. He also highlighted the role of volunteers from the community in providing palliative care”
Dr Piyush Gupta highlighted that “Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients with life limiting illnesses and community based palliative care is a very cost-effective approach to provide care to the poor community.”
Dr M S Uppal congratulated Dr Harjot Singh, State Secretary and the whole team of NAPCAIM, Punjab Chapter for their efforts. He said that we will go a long way and keep on improving our services to serve the humanity.
Dr A P Singh encouraged the team NAPCAIM, Punjab Chapter and said that Palliative care is the holistic approach to serve the people of chronic and life limiting illnesses. Main goal is to provide comfort to the patient as well as the caregivers.
On this occasion Dr. AP Singh, Dean SGRD University and President, NAPCAIM, Punjab Chapter, Dr. Abhijit Dam, President, NAPCAIM, Punjab Chapter, Dr. Piyush Gupta, Secretary, NAPCAIM, Dr Manjit Singh Uppal, Director Principal, SGRD Medical College along with Dr. Paramjot Bindra, Organizing Secretary, Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Dr. Manisha Nagpal, Dr. Pooja Sidana, Dr. Amritpal Singh Brar were present.