PCASL marks World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
The World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2018, under the title, ‘Palliative care – because I matter’ was held by the Palliative Care Association of Sri Lanka (PCASL) on Saturday, October 13, at the Dr. Prathap C. Reddy Auditorium of Lanka Hospitals in Colombo.
The annual Mallika Rani Khoja oration titled ‘melodies for maladies that linger’ was delivered by Dr. G.V.M.C. Fernando of the Family Medicine Department, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte. Dr. Fernando spoke extensively on music therapy and its tranquilising effect on terminally ill patients.
Consultant Oncologist, Dr.N. Jeyakumaran of the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, spoke on the need of nutritional support for patients needing palliative care. The PCASL distributes free whey protein cans to cancer patients.
Cancer Care Association, Chairman and Board member PCASL, Dr. Samadhi Rajapaksa spoke of the importance of caring for patients in their last stages in the community. He outlined the humanitarian service carried out by team of volunteers under his leadership on terminally ill patients of rural Sri Lanka.
Sinhala and Tamil translations of a book titled, ‘ Workbook for carers’ published by the Palliative Medicines Calicut Kerala, India, were launched followed a cultural event.