East Zone: World Hospice & Palliative Care Day Celebration at
Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack, Odisha
The Acharya Harihar Postgraduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC), celebrated the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) with pump and show.
The WHPCD event was organized in collaboration with three other centers from Bhubaneswar, the Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Center, KIMS Hospital and Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust. The program was inaugurated by the Chief Guest for the event, Dr. Niranjan Misra, Director of Public Health, Government of Odisha. Prof. (Dr.) Bidhu Kalyan Mohanti, Director, Oncology Centre KIIMS, Bhubaneswar and Prof. (Dr.) Nibedita Pani, President, Indian Medical Association, Odisha, were the Guests of Honour.
The Chief Guest for the event unveiled a sand sculpture based on the theme of WHPCD which was created by the sand artist, Mr. Rubelal Pradhan.
Several eminent oncologists, NGOs (Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust, Orange cross, Umeedein, Kriya Foundation & Tata Trusts), cancer caregivers and cancer fighters participated in the events and shared their valuable insights on how best palliative care can be taken forward in Odisha. Prof. (Dr.) Rekha Das, HOD, Anaesthesiology, AHPGIC, set the tone for the event by articulating the need of WHPCD. Dr. Lalatendu Sarangi, Director, AHPGIC, addressed the house and personally supervised over the entire event along with Dr. Sumita Mohanty, Associate Professor, Anaesthesiology and In charge of Palliative care Department, AHPGIC.
Two panel discussions were held to discuss about “Integrated Palliative Care in Universal Health Coverage” and “Learning about issues in Palliative care – Policies, Essential Medicines, Finance”. The panelists were experts in their field and discussed about the importance of awareness, the role of various stakeholders in the field of palliative care and effective ways to take it forward in Odisha.
Dr. Babita Varkey, Associate Medical Director, Karunashraya, Bengaluru, also attended the event along with her team and delivered a presentation on the current availability of Palliative care in Odisha and how Karunashraya as an organization will work towards supporting cancer centers in caring for their patients through the Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Center in Odisha.
