Dear Friends,
To our great solace, our country seems to be recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The steep fall in cases is a hopeful sign. As per the available statistics, the average of new cases reported per day in the country last week was 14,000. This figure shows a drastic decrease in cases. The maximum number of cases were reported in September 2020, when it reached the peak; 100,000 new cases in a day. The country is nearing to a normal. Is it a result of herd immunity? Let us hope that future research will prove the reason. The vaccination process has been rolled out in India; yet another relief.
But we have to be vigilant till the pandemic is totally under control. Keeping this in mind, we are continuing with virtual programs to avoid any risk.
Our members have welcomed the decision of IAPC to hold the 28th International Conference as a Virtual Event from 19th to 21st of March 2021. Many have already registered for the conference. The registration and abstract submission are open now. Please visit the conference website www.iapcon2021patna.com for details. Register online and submit abstracts online before the deadline – 28th February 2021.
You can participate in the exciting competitions as well. There will be an art exhibition and competition for delegates and quiz competition exclusively for postgraduates. Please visit the conference website for details of competitions.
Part 2 of the IAPC Academy Weekly Seminars started on 18th January. These seminars are available at IAPC website.
We received a good response from palliative care service providers for the project, “Mapping India: Palliative Care Services Near Me”. Those who have not submitted the Google form yet, are requested to do it at the earliest. It is an effort to build a comprehensive database of palliative care services available all over India.
Do not miss IAPC monthly Newsletter, which also carries all official announcements that our members should know. The web version of the Newsletter is also available on our website www.palliativecare.in
Wishing you all the best!
Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar
President, IAPC
IAPCON 2021
Dates of the conference: 19th, 20th and 21st of March (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), 2021
Theme: Searching Empathy through Research
Abstract Submission is Open; Last Date – Sunday, 28th February, 2021.
Abstract submission for the 28th International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care is now open. Last date for abstract submission is 28th February 2021. For abstract submission guidelines, and to submit abstract online, please follow this Link.
Have you registered for the conference?
Registration is mandatory for participating in the conference, pre-conference workshop, presenting paper, and to participate in the competitions or in any other activity as part of IAPCON 2021. Registration is open now. For online registration, please follow this Link.
It’s a Virtual Experience
As we are still in the grip of COVID-19 pandemic, the 28th International Conference is being organized as a virtual conference, providing you the convenience of participating in the conference without traveling to the distant venue. Here you have the opportunity to join the conference sessions led by world renowned faculty, from the comfort of your home! Meet your peers, share your ideas, present your studies, participate in the competitions and be a winner! For details of scientific sessions and competitions, please visit conference website: www.iapcon2021patna.com
Pre-Conference Workshop will be held on Thursday, the 18th March 2021.
Indian Association of Palliative Care
Notice of Nomination and Election
We hope that all the life members of Indian Association of Palliative Care have read the Election Notification, which has been available on IAPC Website, since December 2020. The same was published in the January issue of IAPC Newsletter, and emailed to all members. Those who missed it, please follow this link for Details.
Vacancy of posts:
- President Elect
- Editor, IJPC
- CC Member (West Zone-1)
Last date to submit nomination – 18th February 2021. Nomination form should be submitted with the original signature and should be couriered to the address given in the nomination form. Scanned copies / emails will not be accepted. For details and to download the form, please follow this Link.
Election
IAPC members will have the right to cast votes online, only if they register for the conference. i.e., Conference registration is mandatory for IAPC members to cast their vote in the election.
Those life members who do not have conference registration will not be allowed to vote as the virtual conference platform is accessible only to those who register for the conference.
AGBM
The Annual General Body Meeting of IAPC will be held on Saturday, 20th March 2021 from 7 PM to 9 PM. Conference registration is mandatory for IAPC members to participate in the AGBM. For details please follow this Link.
IAPC Academy Online Training – Series 2
Every Monday from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
The Part 2 of the IAPC Academy Lecture Series was launched on 18th January 2021, with a brilliant session by a world renowned faculty, Dr. Suresh Kumar (Director WHO CC for Community Participation in Palliative Care and Long Term Care, Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode, India). His talk, on Setting up a community palliative care program, was greatly appreciated by the participants.
In his talk, Dr. Suresh focused on two key points – “why a community based palliative care program? And how?” He shared his experience and the lessons he learned from developing NNPC (a network of community palliative care services) in Kerala, and from many other community initiatives in different regions in India and in other countries.
In his talk, Dr. Suresh Kumar, explained the two approaches of health care – Bio-medical model and Bio-psychosocial model (a model which goes beyond the ‘disease’ to address the experience of illness). “Moving from bio- medical model to bio-psychosocial model is not easy for a physician, unless we take an effort” – said Dr. Suresh. The lecture is available at the website of IAPC. Those who missed it, please follow this Link.
The 2nd lecture in this series was by Dr. Ravinder Mohan, Head, Knowledge Training Education& Research, CanSupport, New Delhi. His talk on Practical aspects of developing and setting up of a home based palliative care service is available at IAPC website. Please follow this Link.
Dr Anil Paleri, Dr Stanley C Macaden, Dr Shrikant Atreya, and Dr Priyadarshini Kulkarni are the faculty for sessions in Februay 2021. Please view the program Here.
WHO Guideline for
Chronic Pain in Children
These guidelines, published by the WHO, address the management of primary and secondary chronic pain in children, up to 19 years of age, with a focus on physical, psychological and pharmacological interventions for pain. To download the guideline please follow this Link.
Walk for life by CanSupport
Goes Virtual in 2021
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic and social distancing norms, CanSupport is holding its annual program, Walk for Life-Stride Against Cancer, virtually, on 7 February 2021. A series of interesting and exciting online pre walk events are also being organised.
CanSupport’s Walk For Life – Stride Against Cancer is an annual walkathon that is organized every year on the first Sunday of February to celebrate World Cancer Day. Since 2008, CanSupport has been organising this event to create awareness about the rising incidence of cancer, show solidarity with cancer patients and their caregivers and raise funds to take care of them.
To know more about the program and to register, please follow this Link.
IAPC Book Club
Books of the Month
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
A novel that explores the unexpected connections of our lives. Check out the details Here
Touching Hearts Gently! by Dr. Priyadarshini Kulkarni
A book of stories of compassion, comfort and connections beyond medicine. Check out the details Here
Worth Reading
- Nearly two thirds of doctors have anxiety or depression, Survey finds:
while many thought that their colleagues were coping with work during the covid-19 pandemic, most had concerns about the standard of patient care being delivered.
Moments to Cherish
Here is the 2nd one of a series of paintings by Dr. Sivasanthanam from Prince Aly Khan Hospital, Mazgaon, Mumbai. He has shared these with IAPC and offered all rights to publish it.
Thank you Dr. Sivasanthanam for this valuable contribution!
“Mapping India: Palliative Care Services Near Me”
Help us to finish the survey
Hello friends,
We have received good responses for this survey “Mapping India: Palliative Care Services Near Me” from palliative care providers in our country. Thank you for submitting the Google form. Still there are many service providers in India, who haven’t submitted the data yet. We request you all to fill up the survey form and submit it as early as possible and participate in this task which will help patients, carers, and health care professionals to locate palliative care services. It is a big step to make palliative care accessible to the needy.
The revised Minimum Standard Tool for Palliative Care in India is being used for this survey. This will provide information about the available levels of palliative services, updated information about IAPC members as well data with which a nation -wide, state- wise, service directory app can be developed over the coming months.
Ms Apoorva, our intern has already sent the form to palliative care service providers in India. You are requested to fill in this form available at this Link
Kindly contact Ms Nisha Krishnadas, National information officer for any clarification (Email: nioiapc@gmail.com).
Thank you.
Dr. Savita Butola
Secretary, IAPC
Hope you enjoyed reading this newsletter. Please let us know your feedback at: nioiapc@gmail.com or WhatsApp @9446693898. You can also give your feedback in the comment box below.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends or organisations working with similar concepts. For donations to IAPC and for further information write to nioiapc@gmail.com.
– Nisha Krishnadas, Editor, IAPC Newsletter.