H.S. Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE, flagged off a walkathon by Kasturba Hospital to mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day here on Saturday. It started from Board High School and culminated at Dr. T.M.A. Pai Hospital here. Nearly 1,000 doctors, students, staff, volunteers and others took part.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day held on the second Saturday of each October, aims to create awareness on palliative care issues. The theme this year is: ‘My Care, My Right.’ Globally less than 10% who need palliative care receive it.
Dr. Ballal said most people did not know about palliative care due to lack of information on optimal care and treatment. “Information about palliative care should be made available to the public,” he said. Nisha James, SP, lauded the initiative. “The message should reach the maximum number of people,” she added. Poornima Baliga, Pro VC, Faculty of Health Sciences, MAHE, said: “To give end of life care is the goal of Palliative Care Department.”
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Sharat Kumara Rao, Dean, Kasturba Medical College (KMC), said: “As the name implies, the palliative care unit is not just a treatment unit for cancer, but also for all patients who are suffering from chronic illness.”
Three patients of the palliative care of Kasturba Hospital shared their experience.