Transcript Ganga Prem Hospice is a spiritually orientated, non-profit

Ganga Prem Hospice
Ganga Prem Hospice
is a spiritually orientated,
non-profit hospice for
terminally ill
cancer patients.
Ganga Prem Hospice…
eases the pain
soothes the mind
and uplifts the spirit.
The developing world is carrying two thirds of the world’s cancer
burden while it has only 5% of the world’s cancer facilities. The most
neglected field of cancer concern in Northern India is the hospice
concept where palliative care takes over when attempts at cure have
failed. A hospice aims at helping to control the pain and other
symptoms in advanced cancer patients in order that they can achieve
the best possible quality of life and a dignified death with the
minimum of distress. A hospice gives support to patients and
relatives with information and basic care.
The Shraddha Cancer Care Trust is dedicated to developing more comprehensive facilities
for cancer patients in Northern India. Our current project, the Ganga Prem Hospice, is
unique in that it is being created to add other dimensions to the concept of hospice, i.e. the
dimensions of spiritual care and holistic treatment. The Hospice will be constructed in the
foothills of the Himalaya, at Timili, 19 kilometres above the town of Rishikesh. The region
of Rishikesh is famous not only for its spiritual culture but also for its many welldeveloped holistic centres. In this beautiful and serene setting, the Hospice staff will
endeavour to create a gentle, safe and supportive environment in which patients and
relatives can be helped to come to terms with unresolved issues of their life and the
difficulties involved in the impending death. If they wish, they can talk with competent
spiritual advisors and attend spiritual programmes such as discourses, communal worship
and meditation etc.
The Hospice care will encompass the physical, mental, emotional and social
fields of the patient’s life. The Hospice will aim at giving the patient general
respect, consistent and effective care, relief from pain and other distressing
symptoms, an appropriate and satisfying diet, comfort, consolation and
spiritual support. The Hospice will offer terminally ill cancer patients firstclass medical facilities and oncological expertise with the option of choosing
allopathic or non-allopathic medicine such as Homeopathy and Ayurveda
etc. An extensive support programme will also reach out to relatives and
friends at the time of their impending loss and in their bereavement.
To achieve these ends, the Hospice Care Team led by Dr. A. K.
Dewan, Senior Consultant at the Rajeev Gandhi Cancer Institute in
Delhi, will consist of patients, family, friends, medical professionals,
spiritual advisors, counsellors, nurses, social workers and volunteer
staff. We want to include the patient in the decision making process
so that decisions are appropriate and congenial to his feelings and
needs. The staff will include cancer specialists, professionals from
holistic care systems, physiotherapists, dieticians and specialists in
complementary medicine techniques such as yoga and
aromatherapy massage etc.
We propose to make a Hospice equipped with 50 beds. The
Hospice will also have a library cum reading room, a meditation
and prayer room as well as a T.V. and recreation room. The
Hospice will have mortuary facilities.
Patients will be eligible for admission to the Hospice only when
they have a certificate from the attending oncologist that they
have progressive or incurable cancer and a life expectancy of
six months or less.
Our goal of providing
holistic care and improving
the quality of life in the last
days of a cancer patient’s
journey is possible and
achievable with your
generous contribution.
Our vision is to help alleviate
the physical and
psychological discomfort
associated with the
progressive, incurable
disease of cancer.
Ganga Prem Hospice
pledges to provide
services to terminally ill
cancer patients
regardless of age, race,
religion or
financial status
Ganga Prem Hospice