Palliative care service, BSMMU offers specialized 3 day introductory course & 6 weeks Basic certificate course in Palliative Medicine.
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Wolfson International Bursary Programme has included Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing/Medicine.
Wolfson international bursary programme is available through Help the Hospices to enable eligible individuals to apply for bursaries of up to £1,500 to support them in their palliative care studies.
The list of eligible courses has been extended and there is now the option to consider applications to attend courses not on the list. These should be accredited and be offered within the region the applicant works in. Applicants can apply to attend multi-year courses, such as a degree course, and can apply for up to £1,500 per 12 months. There is no deadline but the budget is limited so once the funds have been allocated the programme will close.
Full details of the Wolfson international bursaries are on the website: http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk/our-services/grants/internationalgrants/wolfson-international-bursaries
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Two books have been translated in Bangla by the 'Centre for Palliative Care, BSMMU'. The original books were written in English.
The Palliative Care Toolkit and Training Manual has been written to support the development of hospice and palliative care in resource-limited settings.
The funding to translate the Toolkit and Training Manual into Bengali was granted to the ‘Centre for Palliative Care, BSMMU’ by ‘Help the Hospices, UK’. Both the books are available in the WPCA & Help the Hospices website.
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A MoU has been signed between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) & Touching Souls International (TSI) on June 02, 2011. The duration of the agreement will be for five years. The agreement is on specific cooperation in two phases: Phase one (Duration 2 years 2011 & 2012). A resource centre will be gradually developed in the provided space of 3200 sq.ft to the ‘Centre for Palliative Care’ in the newly constructed utility building of BSMMU. Touching Souls International (TSI) is expected to share gradual development of the library and the resource centre. This will be either in the form of procuring latest edition of books and publications on palliative care or by resource mobilization to procure those. Touching Souls International (TSI) will sponsor short courses for doctors, nurses and volunteers. Phase two will be from 2013 to 2015. Both the organizations had expressed their hope and concern that whenever possible, in issues relating to palliative care in Bangladesh, they will show common interest & cooperation with each other.
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The 1st Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing (BCCPN) was launched and completed successfully. Three nurses participated in the first batch. The course started on March 27, 2011 and ended on May 05, 2011. The course was jointly organized by the Centre for Palliative Care, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), Kerala, India.
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The 2nd batch of the six weeks BCCPM course had completed their course successfully. The Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Medicine is aimed at helping the professionals to consolidate and develop their confidence and expertise in palliative care and continue for further education. The course started on March 27, 2011 and ended on May 05, 2011. Nine doctors had participated in the 2nd course. The course was jointly organized by the Centre for Palliative Care, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), Kerala, India. The director of IPM came here as an external examiner to take the final examination, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two institutes. He also delivered few lectures to the participants regarding palliative care. He stayed from 3rd May, 2011 to 7th May, 2011. The expenditure of the external examiner was borne by ‘Touching Souls International, a USA based nonprofit philanthropic organization.
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The 2nd International Conference on Public Health and Palliative Care took place in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh on 21st to 23rd January, 2011.The theme of the conference was ‘Compassionate Care for the Incurably ill’. The venue on the first day was the conference hall of Hotel Sheraton whereas the 2nd and the 3rd day of the program was shifted to at Milon Hall, a reasonably well equipped auditorium of the host institute, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Both the venues were close to each other just across the road. A total of three hundred and thirty participants had registered for the conference which included 34 participants from home and abroad. These included India, Pakistan, Australia, Canada and United Kingdom. The registered participants were mostly physicians and nurses but a number of civil society members including leaders of few non-government organizations (NGO) involved with similar activities were there too.
The conference was formally inaugurated on the evening of the first day (21st January) by Md Zillur Rahman, Hon’bl President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were (Enamul Hoque Mostofa Saheed) the social welfare minister, (Dr Muzibur Rahman Fakir), the State minister of Health and Family Planning,(David Praill), the Co- Chair of the World Palliative Care Alliances and (Suresh Kumar) the Director of the Institute of Palliative Medicine in India. The gathering was also addressed by (Prof. Pran Gopal Datta) the Vice Chancellor of the University who was also Chairman of the organizing committee and by ( Prof. Mohammod Shahidullah) the Chairman of the Scientific Committee on behalf of the host university. All the speakers unanimously appreciated the need for appropriate, accessible and affordable palliative care program for the country. On the same occasion, the President of the country formally unveiled the foundation stone of the newly developing Centre for Palliative Care of the medical university. A conference booklet was brought out to commemorate the occasion. This had messages from the Prime minister, the Health minister, Health advisor to the Prime Minister, along with others who have been involved with the development of palliative care in the country.
The three day scientific program consisted of 3 plenary sessions in which 8 plenary lectures were delivered, 6 scientific sessions in which thirty 33 free papers were presented and 2 poster sessions of 8 displaying posters. Most of the local deliberations focused mostly on basic palliative care issues whereas the papers from abroad appropriately detailed the public health approach to palliative care. The subjects of discussions were of diverse nature reflecting local and international expectations and experiences, a mixed pondering of aspirations and reality on the ground, that exists both locally and globally. The conference deliberations induced curiosity and interest while absolute basic clinical issues like pain management and similar symptom management topics were being discussed. Besides, the delegates shared experiences of local home care support programme and also the report of spiritual support model for Australian aboriginal community. The South Indian team came up with their exceptionally successful model of community participations in the area of palliative care provision in that region.
The conference was a unique one in its own merit. It took place in such a time when palliative care has begun to find its place in the health care system of Bangladesh .The issue had been being discussed also in the community. This was evident by increasing numbers of its presence in the printing and electronic media during the conference and afterwards. The conference has not only helped to gear up the spirit of those who are engaged in this field in Bangladesh, but also raised a lot of local awareness and curiosities in general. Moreover, the issue of public health approach tagged to this relatively new topic can also be regarded as the most timely intervention to achieve the right future direction. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that in broader sense, the public health issue has probably been underrated at the cost of fulfilling the local need and understanding. The host organization has conveniently availed the opportunity of elaborating the need and urgency of palliative care in the country. No doubt that some more experienced and coordinated effort from the beginning could come out with a better outcome.
The running of the three-day conference had been more or less smooth. The arrangement was acceptable. Food and the local hospitality seemed to have been appreciated by the foreign delegates which has been expressed generously during the conference and afterwards. A cultural program preceded the conference banquet. The concluding session on the third day was followed by a food festival of local cuisine, and was appreciated too.
It may also be mentioned that a half day pre-conference workshop was organized on 20th.January, the day before the commencement of the conference. The subject was ‘Developing Palliative Care programme for Bangladesh’. A group of around forty local participants joined by senior faculty members of the university and representatives from the ministry of Social Welfare. The opening presentation titled as ‘Palliative Care in Bangladesh’ was from the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammad Shahidullah.. Other presentations were by three resource persons focusing on 1) ‘Essentials of palliative Care’ by Mr David Prail 2) ‘Undergradate Teaching and Training in Palliative Care’ by Dr. Graham Arthurs and 3) ‘Palliative Care in the developing world’ by Dr Suresh Kumar. These topics had been quite thoroughly discussed in order to find out the possible future programme for developing palliative care in Bangladesh.
In conclusion, the conference is a milestone in the first five year history of Palliative Care initiative in Bangladesh. This the first international conference on Palliative care and Public health ever organized in the country. This, surely has the potential to inspire the ongoing program of palliative care in the country.
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Newspaper report:
Rotary Club of Metropolitan, Dhaka and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) joined hands to upgrade palliative care services in the hospital with an aim to ease sufferings of terminally ill patients.
A five-year agreement was signed on Saturday, 4th January, 2011 to this end under which Rotary Club will provide a 15-bed palliative care unit at BSMMU hospital with modern beds, library and information centre.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Pran Gopal Datta, who was present at the signing ceremony, said those who are suffering from incurable diseases deserve attention, care and painless life that palliative care can ensure.
“Palliative care aids patients in relieving physical, mental, social and spiritual problems and pains,” he said.
Rotary Club President Waqar A Choudhury said the club with its spirit ‘Sharing the Palliative Care’ will also bear expenses of nine out of 15 beds for the treatment of the poor.
Though the agreement has been made for five years, both the parties have expressed their interest in going for a long-term project to expand palliative care services across the country.
Palliative care, a subspecialty of medicine, is new in Bangladesh. BSMMU introduced it in 2007 on a small scale.
Project coordinator of the service Prof Nezamuddin Ahmed said a terminally ill patient needs dignified life despite economic as well as social crises.
Seventy percent of these patients have to suffer from severe pain before death, he said.
Such pains can be relieved with the help trained manpower, he added.
Palliative care also extends cooperation by giving proper guideline and empirical suggestions to the affected families, he said.
Pro-VC Prof Md Ruhul Amin Mia and former district governor of Rotary Club of Metropolitan Dhaka AKM Shamsuddin were also present. -
Abstracts are welcome on each aspects of palliative care, specially integrated to public health approach in palliative care. The abstracts are requested to submit for oral and poster presentations. The first day of the conference will be focusing on general issues of Palliative Care whereas the 2nd and 3rd day will attempt to integrate public health approach in Palliative Care. Doctors, Nurses and Community Volunteers are encouraged for active participation and presentation of their research and views.
Abstracts must not exceed 250 words. Abstracts can be submitted online via the conference website www.pubhealthpallcare.in or via e-mail to palcare_bsmmu@yahoo.com or hard copy. Please be informed that online submission will be preferred.
The last date of abstract submission is November 15, 2010.
