Welcome to the colours of Kathmandu!
In Katmandhu on April 7 & 8th, nurses, doctors, a dietician, educators, a few community members, and a government representative gathered for two days of presentations and brainstorming to discuss the future of HPC in Nepal. This workshop was sponsored by the Nepal Association of Palliative Care, and the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR).
The presentations were inspiring, the people are inspiring.
At the conference, participants were talking about:
- the need for a national hospice palliative care policy,
- the man who opened the doors to getting Morphine manufactured in Nepal (vs having to purchase through India) who updated participants on opioid availability,
- two remarkable presentations on PC education in medical and nursing education.
I find it difficult to share what I am hearing, as i am not sure if I have the details all correct, and there is soooo much to write, where do I even begin?
Twinning projects in hospice palliative care in Nepal?
There are six hospices in Nepal. I visited Bharatpur at the National Cancer Hospital last week, about a 30 min flight from Kathmandu (the drive is anywhere from 4 to 14 hours!) Bharatpur has twinned with Victoria Hospice , and they just renewed their twinning agreement to work together in sharing knowledge of hospice palliative care.
Today we go to Bhaktapur Hospice, just half an hour from here. Nanaimo Hospice has been twinning with Bhaktapur hospice for over five years now. In both cases, the twinning project has fostered relationships, sharing of learning, and strengthening of programs.
While we are here members of the Nanaimo Hospice team will work on the hospice unit with the Nepali staff and lead an 8 day workshop.
At the request of the Nanaimo team, we are adapting the “Essentials in hospice palliative care” text and companion study guide. I have come to participate in the piloting of these materials with the nurses. This is a wonderful experience for me, and I am thrilled.
Meeting LDM Online Students in person!
I have also had the incredible opportunity to meet several of the students who have taken online courses with us at Life and Death Matters. How profound to meet them in person!!!
Life Matters! – Visiting and Sightseeing
Meanwhile, as all this is happening, we have visited a few Hindu sites, witnessed cremations in holy places, and bathe in the beauty of the Nepali people.
4 Responses
Hi Kath !!
It was such a fun and exciting to meet you. When I saw you on the web I thought you maybe were of no existence…I did not know I was going to meet you. anyway it was wonderful time with you all there..I wish i will be able to invite you in Shechen.
Love
sushila
Hi Sushila,
I was so surprised to learn that you found us on the web, had no idea of our involvement in Nepal and did not know that other Nepali people, and people from Africa are taking our courses.
Looking forward to hearing how this course goes for you and Dany.
Kath
I was so happy to meet you at Everest in Barrie. I think the body of work that was discussed was amazing and put a new light on what should be expected of a PSW.Also how to look at life properly too! For me it really just felt like I got the ball rolling. I’m excited and terrified. Terrified mostly because of doing dis-service for the honour it is, and will be! Thanks so much for your amazing lecture, now I can’t wait to read the book and do the workbook. Thanks for having these awesome resources available.
Ruth
It was great to meet you at the college in Barrie! Thanks for your participation and energy about the subject. I wish you all the best in your studies, and look foward to hearing how your career develops as you launch this new career!
Let me know how the book and study guide work for you, and provide any ideas for improvement!
Thanks again,
Kath