Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) is going to organise a seminar in connection with celebrations of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day being observed on October 10. A spokesperson of the hospital said that the World-wide Palliative Care Alliance celebrates the day. This year the theme is "Discovering your voice".
The aims of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day are to raise much needed awareness and understanding of the needs - medical, social, practical and spiritual to improve the quality of life of patients with life threatening illnesses across the globe. SKMCH&RC has a well developed Palliative Care Service - nine specially trained nurses and a physician and are, therefore, playing their part under the guidance of Professor Virginia A. Gumley, Director of Nursing.
However, more needs to be done in the community of Lahore and outreach to the whole country. This is the challenge to the policy makers and the Health Ministry needs to respond to this human need. It may be added that Palliative Care is a human need as well as a human right for everyone and celebration of this World Day will, definitely, play a vital role in educating people about hospice and palliative care services.