Tuesday 23 February 2016

Last words: The public awareness campaign on palliative care





#LastWords is a film made for the Indian Association of Palliative Care. Palliative care or end of days care is an alien concept in India with just 1 in 100 patients in need actually getting it. Awareness about this stream is the biggest hurdle and this film is an earnest attempt to bridge this gap and popularise palliative care. The film draws insight from nurses, who happen to be majority who hear the last words of dying patients, rather than their family members. When nurses across India recount the last words they have heard, it not just leaves a lump in the throat, but raises the all- important question-do not the dying deserve dignity? Should not the quality of death be as important as the quality of life? The end is a new beginning in this direction.

Monday 22 February 2016

Pediatric Hematology Oncology Journal (PHOJ)

The pediatric oncology community in India has steadily been expanding and taking several giant strides as well as small steps in the field of research, capacity building, networking, developing standards, etc. One such important step is the genesis of a dedicated journal to display and disseminate high quality scientific work from India. The editorial board led by Gaurva Narula as well as the leadership of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics have to be congratulated on this initiative. I have no doubt that the excellent quality of work being done in India would provide the perfect foundation to take the journal to a level where it becomes one of the preferred destinations for global pediatric oncology research.