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Palliative Care is now the most visible social movements in Kerala thanks to
the efforts of Pain and Palliative Care Society in Calicut. From a one room
clinic by the anaesthesia department in Calicut Medical Collegein 1993,
palliative care has grown organically into a movement that has more than
8000 volunteers in action at any point of time mainly in the Malabar region
of Kerala.
While entering the main campus of Institute of Palliative Medicine, there is
a green patch known as “Smritivanam", a wood dedicated to the memory
of dear ones.
This was initiated by Forest Protection Staff Association, the trade union
of forest protection staff six years ago. |
this logo was designed by a friend of PPCS who was also a patient at the
clinic during the initial stages
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"“Community
ownership has always been one of the central tenets in Palliative Care in
Kerala. This has instilled a sense of belonging in neighbour-hood networks
where palliative care has become “everybody’s business”. Initiatives like
‘Smritivanam’ will only strengthen various layers of our society to come
together for common good including nature conservation.“
Dr. Suresh Kumar, founder and director of IPM
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'Smritivanam'
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Similar to the ‘wishing trees of Nila’ that we plant in the
travellers forest, relatives of the deceased plant a sapling in memory of
their dear ones.
About six acres of land in the nine acre campus of Institute of Palliative
Medicine is maintained as a patch of forest. The department of forests in
Kerala also has recently shown interest in contributing to this initiative.
The Blue Yonder is taking a small initiative to help preserve this patch for
regeneration and let it develop into a natural forest. In future, this patch
will be a solace for the in-patients to rest and relax and find harmony with
the nature. Travelling volunteers, medical students and regular palliative
care volunteers will be taking active role to maintain the place.
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Gopinath Parayil (Gopi), founder of The Blue Yonder was a full-time
volunteer at the palliative clinic in 1993-94. At the World Responsible
Tourism Day celebrations in London, he said, “The two years I volunteered
at the Palliative clinic brought me closer to people and help me understand
my being better. I guess, even the work we are involved in Responsible
Tourism probably triggered there. The Blue Yonder, partnering with
neighbour-hood network of palliative care services in Kerala to promote the
footprints initiative is one way of giving back to the group of
people who helped many of us touch cord with our own self”.
Footprints at IPM
is an initiative to provide social and vocational rehabilitation of people
with paraplegia, chronic psychiatric illness, prolonged kidney diseases,
long term irreversible elements. The initiative provides essential raw
materials, provides marketing channels, and extends medical and
psychological assistance to the patience.
TBY partnership on footprints at IPM is aimed at helping raise funds, and
bring in skilled local and international volunteers who can contribute
creatively to the rehabilitation of the needy. Those who are interested in
volunteering with us to support the palliative care movement in Kerala,
please
contact us. You may also visit
the website
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'foot
print' sales by students
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