Manipal : A two-day national conference on ‘Palliative Care Nursing: A horizon beyond suffering’ organized by the Manipal College of Nursing on Feb. 5 and 6 concluded here quite fruitfully.
Brief note on palliative care: It is the care of patients with active, progressive, far-advanced disease, with a limited life expectancy where the focus of care is symptom control, comfort and good quality of life. This is inclusive of both malignant and non-malignant conditions. Palliative care is an approach to improve quality of life for individuals with life limiting illness and supporting their family/caregivers.
Palliative care incorporates treatment of pain and other physical symptoms, providing psychological, social and spiritual care, care of an individual during end stage of illness and promotes understanding of loss and bereavement to the wider community.
Inaugural Function:
The inauguration of the national conference took place at the MIT Library Auditorium at 9 am on Friday, Feb 05. The day began with an invocation by Babitha and group.
The inauguration of the national conference took place at the MIT Library Auditorium at 9 am on Friday, Feb 05. The day began with an invocation by Babitha and group. There were speeches by the Chief Guest. The key note address was delivered by Dr. Rajshekaran Warrier, VC MU.
Vasanthi R Pai, Chairperson, Hostel Management Committee, MU, Manipal, was the Guest of honor, who distributed the prizes to the winners. The vote of thanks was proposed by Saroja Jayakumar, Dean, MCON, Bangalore.
Valedictory Function:
At the Valedictory held on Saturday, Feb 6 which began around 4.30 pm, the welcome address was given by Dr. Christopher Sudhakar, Dean, MCON in Mangalore. A report of the conference was read out by Sonia R B D’Souza, Conference Organizing Secretary, Asst. Professor, MCON, MU, Manipal. There were speeches by Dr. Rajasekharan P Warrier, Vice-Chancellor, MU, Manipal, Dr. G.K. Prabhu, Registrar, MU, Manipal. At the conclusion the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Mamatha S. Pai, Prof & HOD, Dept. of Fundamentals of Nursing, MCON, MU, Manipal.
Pre-Conference Workshop Feb.04:
As a forerunner to the two-day national conference, a pre-conference workshop and inception of “Multidisciplinary team approach to Palliative Care” was launched on Feb. 04 at the Shirdi Sai Baba Conference Hall for Cancer at the Kasturba Hospital here. The programme began at 2 pm. Dr Sudhakar Nayak, Professor and HOD of Biochemistry, KMC, Manipal, was the Guest of Honor.
The function was presided over by Professor and Head of Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Kasturba Hospital, Dr Vidyasagar. In his presidential address, he informed “In Udupi nearly 700 to 800 new cancer cases are diagnosed every year and by next 4 years the number is expected to increase up-to 1200 new cases per year. The shocking news is that about 70-80% of the patients come for treatment only at the advanced stage of the disease”, he pointed out grimly.
Dr Rajshekharan P Warrier, VC, MU, speaking at the function, in his key-note address emphasized that palliative care ensures “comfort care” for many patients with chronic end-stage diseases of cancer, and various neurological conditions etc. The Palliative Care team comprises of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers etc. Dr. Naveen. S. Salins, Palliative Medicine Consultant; is an active member of this endeavor.
Erna Judith Roach, Associate Dean, Manipal College of Nursing welcomed the gathering. Dr Naveen S Salins, Palliative Medicine Consultant and Dr Anice George, were both present at the function. Vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Kasturi R Adiga, Principal, Manipal School of Nursing.
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