Awards and Recognitions
Nurse Sheelarani conferred India’s prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award, 2021
We are extremely proud to share that one of our very own palliative care nurses, Ms Sheelarani VS is the recipient of the very prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award, 2021.
The National Florence Nightingale Award is presented as a mark of recognition for meritorious service and is the highest national distinction a nurse can achieve for their selfless devotion and exceptional professionalism. This award is presented on the 12th of May every year, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale.
Sr Sheelarani hails from Kidangoor in Kottayam District of Kerala and is currently working as a Community Palliative Care Nurse at the Kidangoor Grama Panchayat, Koodallor CHC with over 12 years of palliative care nursing experience.
Sr Sheelarani will be receiving this award from Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Honourable President of India, at a later date.
An elated Sr Sheerani shares, “For me, patient’s comfort is most important. We achieve this through teamwork. I thank my team and am very grateful for this recognition. This award motivates me to work harder and to continue rendering quality palliative care to all those I am able to”.
Congratulations Sr Sheelarani! We are extremely proud of you!
Dr Geeta Joshi awarded the Indian Society for the Study of Pain’s Annual Oration Award, 2022
We are delighted to share that Dr Geeta Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Community Oncology Center, Gujarat Cancer Society, Ahmedabad, has been awarded with the Indian Society for the Study of Pain’s (ISSP) Annual Oration Award, 2022.
Dr Joshi received this award at the 36th Annual National Conference of Indian Society for Study of Pain, held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, between Friday, 15th April, 2022, and Sunday, 17th April 2022.
The award was presented to Dr Joshi by Dr Kailash Kothari, President, ISSP, and Dr Pankaj N Surange, Hon. Secretary, ISSP, in recognition of Dr Joshi’s immense contribution towards improving pain awareness, education and training, and her selfless services to innumerable suffering patients.
On this occasion, Dr Geeta Joshi said, “This is a matter of pride and great honour. This award not only recognises my work, it also motivates me and places on me an enormous amount of responsibility towards further developing the field. I am thankful to my organisation for all their support.”
Congratulations, Dr Geeta Joshi. Keep inspiring us!
Palliative / Geriatric wards inaugurated in all of Jammu and Kashmir’s District Hospitals post IAPC’s training of district Doctors and Nurses in March
All of Jammu and Kashmir’s District Hospitals inaugurated Palliative / Geriatric care wards on Thursday, 31st March, 2022.
Shri Manoj Sinha, the Honourable Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, e-inaugurated the various wards spread across the State, and physically inaugurated the ward at the Government Hospital Gandhinagar, Jammu. The event was also attended by Shri Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir, Shri. Vivek Bhardwaj, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Choudhary Mohd Yasin, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Saleem Ur Rehman, Director General, Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization Jammu and Kashmir, and Director, Health Service, Jammu, and Dr Narinder Bhatial, Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital Gandhinagar, Jammu.
Dr Rohit Lahori, State Nodal Officer, NPPC, Jammu, who was also present at the inauguration shared, “This is a momentous occasion in the history of Jammu’s Health Care. Our patients can now access palliative care from any corner of the state and enjoy better quality of life. We are thankful to the Government and the Indian Association of Palliative Care for their support and towards making this possible.”
The Indian Association of Palliative Care, in association with the National Health Mission (NHM), trained 48 Doctors and Nurses from Jammu, Leh and Kargil, in the basics of Palliative Care between Friday, 11th March, 2022, and Sunday, 13th March, 2022.
Congratulations, Dr Rohit and team! Keep motivating us with your progress.
Nagaland’s first full fledged Palliative Care Center inaugurated on 24th April, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Nagaland received it’s first full fledged palliative care center, St. Joseph Pain & Palliative Care Centre at Chümoukedima on Sunday, 24th April, 2022.
A team of Doctors, palliative care nurses, physiotherapists, counsellors, a chaplin and volunteers will provide free palliative care services for people with terminal illnesses and their families. The 20 bedded Inpatient centre will also offer Outpatient services, Day Care services, Home Care services, Medical camps and training programs. The project is an initiative of the Catholic Diocese of Kohima and the Medical Sisters of St Joseph.
Shri Neiphiu Rio, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Nagaland, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and also inaugurated the center. The inauguration was also attended by other dignitaries such as Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima, St. Joseph Church, Dr Neikhrielie Khimiao, Principal Director, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, Shri. Abhinav Shivam, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Chümoukedima, Dr Sedevi Angami, Director, Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur, Shri. Johnny Raungmei, President CAN & Joint CEO NSDMA, Shri. Razouvotuo Chatsu, Chairman, Chümoukedima Town, Sr. Miriam MSJ, Provincial Superior, Rev. Sr. Philomy MSJ, Superior General, Fr. Antony Rozu, Parish Priest and Rev. Sr. Maris MSJ, Sister Superior.
On this occasion, Shri Neiphiu Rio shared, “The primary objective of this center is to improve the quality of life by taking care of the physical, psychological, spiritual and emotional needs of people”. He went on to add that “Palliative care is not only to relieve the suffering of patients but also to comfort and support families through difficult times.” He concluded by assuring the center of the State Government’s assistance.
Congratulations to the team of St. Joseph Pain & Palliative Care Centre! Wish you the best in your future endeavours.
Department of Palliative & Supportive Medicine inaugurated at Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Post Graduate Institute, Indore, on 26th April, 2022
It is exciting to share that Sri Aurobindo Medical College and Post Graduate Institute (SAIMS), Sri Aurobindo University, Indore, inaugurated a Department of Palliative and Supportive Medicine on Tuesday, 26th April, 2022.
The newly inaugurated Department of Palliative & Supportive Medicine will house a 10 bedded Inpatient facility and also offer full time OPD and Home Care services to serve patients with serious health related suffering including advanced cancers, end-organ failures, neurodegenerative diseases and others.
The department was inaugurated by Dr Vinod Bhandari, Founder Chairman, SAIMS, and Dr Manjushree Bhandari, Chancellor, Sri Aurobindo University. Dr Bhandari congratulated Dr Pankaj Singhai, Assistant Professor, Department of Palliative & Supportive Medicine, SAIMS, and Dr Shreya Jain, Assistant Professor and In-charge Home Care Services, SAIMS, for initiating and provisioning Palliative Care Services, and also promised the necessary support for the further growth of the Department.
On this occasion Dr Singhai shared, “This will be the first Institute in the State for education and training of Palliative Medicine Specialists. I am very excited to be a part of this team and all of this was possible only because of the blessings and support of my parents, my teachers and well-wishers”.
SAIMS is the largest private teaching hospital with 1400 beds catering to patients from the Malwa region in Central India, Including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Congratulations Dr Pankaj and team! We wish you keep achieving greater heights!
Palliative Care Unit inaugurated at Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad, on 26th April, 2022
The Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital in association with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indian Society of Anesthesiologists had organised a CME to commemorate the inauguration of their new Palliative Care Unit and an Advance Intravenous Access Center on Tuesday, 26th April, 2022.
Dr Srinagesh Simha, Medical Director, Karunashraya, Bengaluru, and Past President, IAPC, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and inaugurated the 20 bedded Inpatient palliative care unit. Dr Simha presented the members of the IMA and Anaesthesia Association of Aurangabad, a lecture on ‘The Potent Power of Palliative Care’, while Dr Sujit Khade, Consultant Anaesthesiologist, Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad, presented a lecture on ‘Advance Intravenous Access’.
Dr Vijay Borgaonkar, the Founder Medical Director, and Dr Himanshu Gupta, the Chief Executive Officer of Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad, were also present on this momentous occasion.
This newly inaugurated unit will start functioning under the able guidance of Dr Balaji Asegaonkar, Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Palliative Care Physician, Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad. The unit will currently extend support to oncology patients, with plans being fine tuned to expand activities in the near future.
A large number of local Doctors from the IMA and Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists attended the event.
Congratulations, Dr Asegaonkar and team! We wish you the best for your continued growth.