 Pfizer
has partnered with Cansupport to deliver palliative care and support to persons
living with advanced cancer.
Pfizer
has funded a home care team to care for atleast 30 patients, at an annual cost
of approximately Rs.13 lakhs. The team consists of a doctor, a nurse, a nursing
assistant, a counselor, an office assistant and a driver. Pfizer's contribution
covers the cost of salaries, the vehicle, homecare expenses, medicines, and
overheads.
Cansupport
is a Delhi based non-profit society that provides palliative care, free of
cost, to people with advanced cancer. It helps them and their families to make
informed choices and to receive appropriate physical, emotional, social and
spiritual support.
|
| |
|
What
is Palliative care?
Palliative care is the term used for providing patients and their families a
way to control pain and relieve suffering. It includes medication, nursing and
counseling and while it neither prolongs life nor hastens death, it can help
people cope with a difficult time in their lives.
|
The
mobile unit delivers palliative care services, free of cost, to cancer patients
in the city of Delhi. They offer to the patient relief from pain and other
distressing symptoms, nursing care and advice, answers to enable them to make
informed choices The care provided does not concentrate on the disease but on
the needs of the individuals and their families.
Patients
are referred to the home care service from the Institute
Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS, from Dharamshila Cancer Institute, and from
other hospitals, as well as by friends and relatives.
The
home care team offers :
-
Medical and nursing care to relieve the pain and distressing
symptoms that can accompany advanced cancer.
-
An opportunity for the patient and the family to talk over issues that may
be troubling them with experienced and caring professionals.
-
Practical advice and support to family members in their role
as carers.
-
Medical equipment, supplies and nutritional supplements to
those with special needs.
-
Comfort and care that extends to all aspects
of the individuals well being.
-
Bereavement counseling to grieving relatives.
|
International
Programs
