The Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society (PRPCS), in association with Roshni Trust, has launched its second home-based palliative care initiative — ‘Life at Your Doorstep’ — for terminally ill patients in the city. The initiative aims to reach-out to such patients at their homes, while providing palliative care and other medical services.
The initiative, launched at M.N. J. Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre on Tuesday, will comprise an ambulance and a team of nurses, counsellors and palliative care physicians. The team will visit the patient’s home to attend to their physical, psychological and spiritual needs.
“Patients suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS and other terminal illnesses are always in physical pain and need lot of emotional help. Many can’t make it to the hospital as they are often in advanced stages of their medical condition. They languish at home in unhygienic conditions. We will try to reach as many patients as possible,” said Secretary, PRPCS, Dr. Gayatri Palat, during the inauguration.
Current work
The Society currently spends close to Rs. 2,000 a month to take care of a patient at home.
Since 2008, in association with M.N. J. Institute, the PRPCS is operating an ambulance, covering 870 new patients and made more than 3,000 follow-up visits.
“In association with Roshni Trust, we have a second ambulance and a dedicated team. Palliative care is not just for cancer patients. We will cover all the terminally ill-patients in the district,” said vice-president, PRPCS, D. Priya Kumari.
The initiative was formally launched by the brand ambassador of Roshni Trust, Shilpa Reddy on Tuesday. The Director, M.N.J. Institute, Dr. T. Kannan and others from PRPCS and Roshni Trust were present.
For more details, contact 09177238901.
