CareVision India is a Not-for-profit Non-governmental Organization based in Kolkata that aims to promote service, education and training in palliative care. The organization was founded by Dr Sanghamitra Bora in December 2012. This is the first ever training programme organized by CareVision India towards promotion of palliative care education.
The objective of the programme was to sensitize the general public to palliative care principles and to invite them to join CareVision India as volunteers. There exists very little work in palliative care in West Bengal and other states in eastern India. Promotion of community based palliative care being one of the objectives of this organization, CareVision India intends to sensitize the untouched parts of the community such as professionals from different fields, school children, neighbourhood clubs and societies etc., towards realization of the ever existing need in society for palliative care.
The session started with an inauguration programme with presentations by important dignitaries who highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts required for palliative care sensitization. The scientific programme had topics related to palliative care history, pain & symptom management, cancer & palliative care, nutrition, communication skills, role of the volunteer, and end of life care at home setting. The movie, “LIFE BEFORE DEATH” was screened for the delegates at the end of the session.
A total of 120 delegates attended the programme. The English & Bangla versions of the “Palliative Care Toolkit” from Help The Hospices in the U.K. was given as study material. Amongst the faculty were Dr Abhijit Dam, palliative care specialist from Bokaro, Dr Chandreyee Bhattacharya, palliative care specialist from Kolkata, Dr Suchanda Goswami , Senior Oncologist and palliative care specialist from Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Mrs Nupur Chakraborty, Secretary–HITAISHINI, Ms Swati Samadder, Consultant Dietician, Kolkata, and Dr Sanghamitra Bora, Specialist in Palliative Care. At least 75 delegates have expressed their wish to be associated with CareVision India as Volunteers after the programme. The strategy will be enrolment of these volunteers and conducting in-house trainings in the near future.
Care Vision India would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Nezamuddin from Bangladesh to the success of the workshop. Dr Nezamuddin donated printed copies of the Bangla version of his recently written book on palliative care, which were used during the training.
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