by Himakshi Thakuriya
Wealways talk about old age home where elderly people are taken care of but arethese homes enough of taking care of those who are unable to walk or even havetheir own food after a certain age of time or when they are too ill to takecare of themselves?
Thereis not much answer. The situation gets further complicated when one triesto make the pain of their terminally ill near dear one's final journey littleless painful.
Thisis Palliative care and Assam or even India is known for a great shortage ofthat. But tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Guwahati city, at theoutskirts of the city, lies a Palliative Care centre, which takes in thepatient when the old age home and relative surrender.
SacredHeart Palliative Care Centre is an institution whose vision is mainly to takecare of advanced terminally ill patients. Being entirely a non-governmentalorganization, this is run by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Congregation. Locatedat 9th Mile, Guwahati, this centre is neither a hospital nor a home. But itoffers both: hospital care with the love of a home.
Itprovides medical assistance to the terminally ill patients help the physicallychallenged, pain relief and psychological support for bedridden patients, daycare services, encouraging the patients to do some work to keep their mindsoccupied, spiritual support system, take care of untreatable terminal cases andalso awareness programmes, said sister Rosa Marina, in charge of the Centre.
Thecentre currently has 12 patients who have the capacity of 40 beds.
The administrator of this centre, Sister Rose Marina sacrificed her whole life in this vision. She said, "It has been 45 years since I've stepped into Assam. I've been doing this job since I was 18 years old. This is via free will and I am working having faith upon Jesus."
Whileinteracting with this correspondent of Pratidin Time, a patient of this centrenamed Upamanyu Baruah, who is holding some mental disorder said, "Currently Iam holding four top posts, President of India, Prime Minister of India, ChiefMinister of Assam and also the Police Commissioner." Though his age is about 53years, his behavior is totally childlike.
Everyperson in this centre has their own personal story. Robert, a young boy metwith an accident while he was on his duty has lost the support of his legs.After being treated with the initial treatment he was referred to this centrein 2014. Since then, he is looking after other patients although he himself isdisabled. He now has the responsibility of other patients of his ward.
SacredHeart Palliative Care Centre hasn't got any government grant or privilege ofthe scheme. Now it consists of four sisters, including Rose Marina and 7working staff members. Last year they received a grant from Catholic HealthAssociation of India.
Thiscentre is running with the help of money which they get from some families ofpatients. They charge Rs 500 per day of stay as they take care of every carefrom food, hygiene to basic medical service. The family have to support withclothes and medicine. They also give support to patients who are financiallyweak and try to give free aid. 10% of the sister's income is kept for the poorand welfare activities.
TheCentre maintains a strict low profile, unlike some who makes a lot ofhullabaloo in the media and is completely devoted to taking care of thepatients slowly.
