NEWS ARCHIVE

INDIA, Rishikesh, Feb.22nd, 2009
February Clinic 2009
Treatment-stage cancer patients form a majority at the February clinic

The February 2009 cancer clinic saw a total of 26 patients benefiting from Ganga Prem Hospice’s free consultation service. The twelve cancer patients who consulted Dr Ashish Goel (DNB, Surgical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi) came from Dehradun, Haridwar and Sahranpur, the adjoining cities of Rishikesh. Cancer patients from Rishikesh also arrived at the clinic to have their symptoms examined.

Of the cancer patients who came to the clinic, some were coming to GPH for the first time while others were those who had received GPH’s services earlier as well. This time, we saw that ‘treatment-stage’ cancer patients comprised a majority of the cases and fortunately, we had only one terminal-cancer case this time—that of terminally-ill and long-time GPH patient, Madhu Rana. Since this cervical cancer patient is extremely ill, her son consulted Dr Goel on her behalf about her pain symptoms. One of our Rishikesh volunteers, Dr Savita Mohan, has generously provided Madhu with a television so that the bed ridden patient can have something to distract her mind from her pain and the four walls of her tiny room.

Cancer hits the economically-backward people the hardest. Coupled with low levels of literacy and inadequate nutrition, the poor cancer patients are hit doubly hard by this debilitating and often fatal disease. We saw an example of this when a very economically-impoverished forty year old female cancer patient, Heera Devi, arrived at the clinic on February 22nd. A widow with seven young children to look after and a disease like cancer, the patient needed support for her treatment. After preliminary investigations, the GPH visiting oncologist advised the patient an ultrasound test to ascertain the status of her gall-bladder problem. The Hospice team will monitor the patient’s case for the future.

At the end of the clinic, Dr Ashish Goel who stood in for Dr Ajay Dewan was satisfied at the turnout of the patients and was happy that he had had a busy day, something that had made his 300-kilometre journey from Delhi to Rishikesh, to attend to the clinic, a very worthwhile exercise. GPH is thankful to the doctor for the diagnosis that he offered to the hospice’s patients, after a detailed investigation of each case.

Ganga Prem Hospice team has also started to visit a young man of thirty five years of age who lives at the village of Shyampur near to Rishikesh and who is terminally ill with liver cancer. He first came to Ganga Prem Hospice at the World Cancer Day clinic in Rishikesh on February 4th. He has a supportive family who are very grateful for the help and care provided by the visits of the Hospice team.

INDIA, Rishikesh, Feb. 4th , 2009
World Cancer Day Conference
Ganga Prem Hospice held a conference in Rishikesh on the occasion of the World Cancer Day. The conference entitled 'Holistic Care in Terminal Stage Cancer' included eminent speakers such as Uttarakhanda Health Minister
Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Acharya Bal Krishna from Patanjali Yoga Peetha and our chairman Dr Ajay Kumar Dewan.

The conference, which saw the participation of around 300 individuals, helped generate awareness about the need for hospice care in India. Through the conference, Ganga Prem Hospice was able to reach out to not just the grassroots people, but also gather the support of decision-makers in the Uttarakhand administrative circles, as also alternate health experts and spiritual leaders who are an important part of the Rishikesh milieu.

The Health Minister speaking with television reporters

The Minister of Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank felt convinced that hospices were indeed badly needed in the region. Using the World Cancer Day event as a platform, the Minister also announced that Uttarakhand would soon have a special cancer facility at the Himalayan Institute Hospital at Jolly Grant as well as a cancer clinic in Dehradun.

As the World Cancer Day charitable cancer camp on the morning of 4th February drew to a close, the Ganga Prem Hospice volunteers and staff hurriedly crossed to the other side of the river Ganga in order to reach the venue of the World Cancer Day conference— an event organised by Madhavananda and Renu Gulati.

The conference took place in the Yoga Hall of Paramarth Niketan, a venue which had been generously donated and decorated for the occasion by Parmartha Niketan. Some volunteers crossed the river by the foot bridge at Muni ki Reti and others went by car across the barrage and through the forests of the Rajaji National Park.

The conference venue, Paramarth Niketan In Rishikesh

A group of volunteers from many different countries joined the Ganga Prem Hospice team from Rishikesh and Delhi in managing the tickets at the gate, entry to the conference, seating arrangements, and stalls where GPH literature, audio and video publicity material, and donation facilities were available.

Shanti Mai and Prem Baba from Sacha Dham attended the conference with all of their disciples so the hall, which could seat over three hundred people, was quickly filled and overflowing with people of all nationalities. The organisers were not sure in which language the speakers should speak but in the end some of the talks were delivered in Hindi and some in English. Sadhvi Bhagavati of Paramarth Niketan made excellent summaries of the Hindi speeches in English for those in the audience who could not understand them.

Children from the Plaza Music Acadamy

The first item on the agenda was a performance by the young musicians and vocalists of Plaza Music Academy. The academy, at which local children attend free traditional classical music classes, was founded by the late Ma Chetan Jyoti, a friend of Ganga Prem Hospice and an old time resident of Rishikesh.The children, led by their teacher Shivananda, played a number of compositions which were greatly appreciated by the audience.

There was a short interlude after the music while everyone waited for the
arrival of the speakers so that we could begin the lamp lighting ceremony.
During this time Shanti Mai, Prem Baba and a representative from Patanjali
Yoga Peetha gave short talks on the fact that living a healthy life can help
prevent cancer. They also expressed their admiration and support for the
Ganga Prem Hospice Project.

At this point Pujya Swami Chidanandaji of Paramarth Niketan, Acharya Bal Krishna of Patanjali Yoga Peetha, Shri Prem Aggarwal, member of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, Shri Deep Sharma, Municipal President of Rishikesh and Dr Ajay Dewan arrived in the hall The Health Minister also arrived soon afterwards.

A prayer after the lighting of the traditional lamp

The ceremonial lamp was lit by the main speakers and young bramacharis from the Paramarth Niketan sang Sanskrit mantras during the ceremony.

Sri Prem Aggarwal and Sri Deep Sharma gave short talks in which they
expressed the appreciation of the people of Rishikesh for the work that
Ganga Prem Hospice is doing in the area. They said they were honoured that
Rishikesh had been chosen as the site for one of the very first hospices in
North India They both pledged to help the Hospice activities in any way that
they could.

Dr Dewan was the first programme speaker and gave an excellent discourse on cancer prevention. He said that cancer is principally a life style disease and mentioned tobacco, alcohol, pan, spicy and oily foods etc as contributing to the formation of cancer. He advised a clean and moderate life style as a method of cancer prevention.

Dr Dewan speaking at the conference

He went on to explain the difficulties involved in advanced cancer and why hospices were needed to provide care for the terminally ill. He particularly mentioned poverty and ignorance as being among the main reasons why families could not provide suitable care for terminally ill cancer patients at home. He told the audience about Ganga Prem Hospice's present activities and future plans to build a hospice in Rishikesh.

Dr Dewan especially thanked Sarojini Murthy for her palliative care work in Rishikesh.

The Uttarakhanda Health Minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhriayal Nishank spoke next and he commended the Ganga Prem Hospice project as being the only one of its kind in the region. He spoke of how much a hospice was needed in Uttarakhanda and his gratitude that Rishikesh had been chosen for this project. He also remarked how fitting it was that a facility for the dying should be made on the bank of the Ganga where people have for thousands of years come to spend their last days in the belief that her holy water can help them to attain Liberation.The Minister also said that the Uttarakhanda government
had plans to open a cancer hospital and clinic in Dehradun in the near future.Finally, he promised his whole hearted support to the Ganga Prem Hospice Project.

Acharya Bal Krishna of the famed Patanjali Yog Peeth focused his talk on the use of Ayurveda and Yoga in cancer prevention. He reiterated Dr Dewan's words about cancer being a life style disease and propagated a healthy, balanced way of living as being the only way for cancer prevention.

He mentioned tobacco, alcohol, paan, meat, precooked and junk foods, chemical pesticides, too much or too little activity and unbalanced patterns of living as being causes of cancer. He advised exercise, yoga and pranayama, clean and natural foods and moderate living as cancer preventatives.He praised the Ganga Prem Hospice initiative and promised his help and support in the future.

Acharya Bal Krishna speaking on Ayurveda

Pujya Swami Chidananda of Paramarth Niketan then spoke of the benefit of
service in spiritual life. He said that compassion was the true fruit of
understanding that is born from meditation. He complemented the Ganga Prem
Hospice team on their work in Rishikesh and promised his help and support.

Pujya Swami Chidananda listening to the speakers

He also pledged Rs 100,000 as a gift from Paramarth Niketan to Ganga Prem Hospice and asked others to follow suit. Acharya Bal Krishna concured with him and promised to make an equal donation. Swamiji finished by offering the use of the Yoga hall to Ganga Prem Hospice for all future World Cancer Days.

As the speakers had arrived late and also the international audience had
needed translation for some of the speeches the conference had run over
time. Seeing this, the next speaker, Nani Ma, spoke only for a few minutes thanking everyone for their attendance and support for the Hospice project.

She also added that in Vedanta philosophy we learn that there is only One Being in many forms. She said it is only natural that just as each limb of our bodies helps the other limbs of our bodies so each one of us should help the less fortunate members of this multi faceted manifestation.

Swami Madhavananda speaking with Nani Ma

Each of the speakers was presented with a beautiful flower garland, natural
herbal incense and natural herbal soap in appreciation of their attendance
and support for Ganga Prem Hospice. As the conference drew to an end Mira Prabhu requested every one to leave the hall for a few minutes and partake
of refreshments on the beautiful lawn outside the hall. As it was already arti time, Pujya Swami ji invited the speakers to join in the evening arti which is held daily on the bank of the Ganga in front of Paramartha Niketan.

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World Cancer Day Charity Concert
After the conference Yogacharya Pratishta, the world renowned Kathak dancer and Yoga Master, and her students and co-performers gave a concert in the form of a meditative dance which combined Indian classical dance and Yoga asanas.

The beauty and charm of the dance coupled with the agility and poise of the yoga asanas presented an unforgettable performance which was very much appreciated by the everyone present. The young artists enthralled the audience with their performances which were a combination of the traditional yoga postures and dance mudras.

It is perhaps for the first time that very difficult yoga postures have been performed to the beats of classical and fusion music. The audience were awe-struck by the ease and precision with which the dancers performed the intricate yoga asanas. The dance was an artistic expression of devotion, elegance and grace and made a perfect ending to the day.

World Cancer Day was observed for the first time in Rishikesh and the day
was undoubtedly an out and out success. Over the past year Ganga Prem Hospice has become a well known and well respected part of Rishikesh and the day's proceedings served to increase awareness of cancer prevention and cancer treatment as well as the Ganga Prem Hospice project. The day generated a lot of support from all sectors of Rishikesh society.

Renu Gulati (left) with Mira Prabhu

.Madhavananda and Renu are especially commended for their untiring efforts in making this day such a success. Thanks are also due to our Mistress of Ceremonies, novelist Mira Prabhu, who did an excellent job of introducing everyone in her competent and humorous way. Mention must also be made of all the volunteers who worked hard to make this day such a milestone in the developement of the Ganga Prem Hospice Project.

The conference and concert were sponsored by Dr Reddy’s laboratories, Pepsico Ltd. and Avalon Ayurveda. Paramarth Niketan donated the yoga hall and refreshments and Alan Neachel from the U.K designed the souvenir brochure.

World Cancer Day Charitable Camp
Many under-privileged cancer patients were treated by Ganga Prem Hospice on World Cancer Day. Two terminally-ill cancer patients, as well as patients with initial stage cancer were given medical help

On the occasion of the World Cancer Day, Ganga Prem Hospice organised a special cancer camp on the morning of February 4, 2009, at the Jai Ram Ashram premises at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh. Along with the Shradha Cancer Care Trust Chairperson, Dr Ajay Dewan, two more doctors, Dr Sunil Saini of Jolly Grant Hospital and Dr Sukumal Shah from the USA, provided their expert services to attend to a stream of patients. Ganga Prem Hospice distributed free medicines at the camp.

The camp saw mainly three categories of patients:
a) Patients who had been treated for cancer before and came for follow-up treatment;
b) Patients who wanted a second-opinion from oncologists and cancer surgeons about their disease and treatment;
c) Patients who had a suspicion that they had cancer and wanted their symptoms diagnosed.

Among the 43 patients attended to, two were diagnosed as terminally-ill cancer patients (TICPs). The two patients (a male and a female) belonged to the under-privileged income group and one of them had travelled all the way from Jammu to Rishikesh for consultations. Unfortunately, he did not have the knowledge that he suffered from cancer, even though the malignancy had spread to the lungs and bones. Dr Dewan, judging the seriousness of the situation, explained gently to the kin of the patient that the focus now must shift from getting the disease “treated” to offering palliative care to the patient who was in considerable pain because of the advanced nature of the cancer. The patient was referred to Jolly Grant hospital for further medical attention and a prescription given to aid the process.

Clinical examination of many more patients was done and two new patients had suspected malignancy. The Ganga Prem Hospice doctors advised certain tests for these patients and referred them to the Himalayan Institute Hospital, Jolly Grant, for a detailed prognosis based on test results. The Himalayan Institute Hospital is a full-service hospital and is the nearest help-point for cancer patients in the Rishikesh area.

We are seeing a growing awareness about cancer among patients and other people in the Rishikesh area. During the past year, Ganga Prem Hospice has put up billboards and posters in several places in Rishikesh advising on some common symptoms of suspected cancer, detecting which, patients should immediately consult a doctor. At the World Cancer Day clinic, we saw the results of this awareness campaign as several patients who arrived for consultations wanted to know if their condition of blood in cough, constant fatigue or intestinal trouble was indicative of cancer. This rising awareness is the key to detecting and curing cancer in the first stages and Ganga Prem Hospice is happy that people of the area have begun to pay attention to the symptoms of the disease.

Sarojini Murthy at the camp's registration desk

The Hospice team cannot do without thanking our Rishikesh-based palliative care expert, Sarojini Murthy, who has been a constant support to hundreds of cancer patients over the last two years. Many new volunteers from the town of Rishikesh were in attendance at the camp and several of our Delhi-based volunteers had also driven to Rishikesh from Delhi to assist with the registration and guidance processes at the camp.

Dr Ajay Dewan summed up the morning’s proceedings by saying, “It was a high-output cancer camp and even if we can detect one case of first-stage cancer out of a hundred, I feel we have done our job.”

INDIA, Dehradun, Feb. 3rd, 2009
World Cancer Day Press Conference in Dehradun
Thirty journalists attended a press conference held by Ganga Prem Hospice on eve of the World Cancer Day

Ganga Prem Hospice held its first press conference in Dehradun on the eve of World Cancer Day to create awareness about cancer prevention and the need for Hospice services in Northern India. The opportunity was also used to introduce Ganga Prem Hospice to the print and electronic media. The conference attracted around thirty journalists from local and national press as well as a number of reporters from television news channels. Members of our Delhi-based team, including Dr Ajay Dewan, Chairperson of Shradha Cancer Care Trust, our auditor, Mr Suresh Kathpalia, and Pooja Dogra, a volunteer, reached Dehradun at the designated time for the press conference even though they were delayed by very foggy weather on their way from Delhi to Dehradun.

Dr Ajay Dewan led the press conference by briefing the media persons about the cancer scenario in India, and explained why hospices are so important in a country where 75% of the cancer cases are diagnosed only at an advanced stage, making the terminally-ill constitute a large number of the cancer patients’ population.

Dr Dewan with journalists at the press conference

After a presentation session, the journalists interacted freely with the cancer surgeon, asking him questions about the status of cancer care in the state of Uttarakhand, the number of hospices in India, and the main causes of cancer etc.

News reports on cancer were carried in several papers on 4th February 2009, including Hindsutan Times, Indian Express, The Tribune and the Hindu among the English papers, and Dainik Jagaran and Hindustan among the Hindi papers. ‘TV 24’ and ‘Jain TV’ also covered the news conference.

The Inderloka Hotel, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, where the press conference was held, donated refreshments to the journalists and the hospice staff. Mr Suresh Kathpalia and our General Manager, Swami Madhavananda supported the press conference management.

INDIA, Rishikesh, Jan. 25th, 2009
January Clinic 2009
Braving the cold wave, patients seek consultation from our monthly cancer clinic in Rishikesh.

The January 2009 monthly cancer clinic was held in Rishikesh on January 25, 2009. January is the coldest month of the season in Rishikesh. Yet, patients started to call the Hospice palliative care co-ordinator, Sarojini Murthy, well in advance, to seek an appointment with Dr Ajay Dewan, the Ganga Prem Hospice chairperson and senior oncologist. However, at this clinic, it was Dr Goel, an oncologist with Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute Delhi, who provided consultation to patients since Dr Dewan had a conference to attend on the same day, in Jaipur.

Patients at the cancer clinic in Rishikesh

The twenty patients who came for free consultations were attended to with kindness by Dr Ashish Goel who was very thorough with examination of the patients’ symptoms and case history. It is possible that some regular patients may have decided not to come to the clinic when they discovered that Dr Dewan would not be there, but those who came, were happy and thankful that Dr Goel had provided them his expert advice and a treatment plan for their illness

One of our long-time cancer patients, Madhu Rana’s condition is sadly deteriorating very quickly and the Ganga Prem Hospice home-care team has been attending to her at home to provide her some relief from distressing physical symptoms. Her son is also in need of emotional support as he faces the prospect of his mother’s death. It is a challenging time not just for the patient and her son, but also for the Hospice team which has to provide counselling and succour to the patient in a very considerate but professional manner.

The January 2009 clinic saw some more volunteers from Rishikesh offering to lend their services to Ganga Prem Hospice. Our General Manager, Swami Madhavanand explained to them the kind of human resource support we needed to run the clinics and to help with the publicity work.

INDIA, Rishikesh , Jan. 1st, 2009
Ganga Prem Hospice honoured in Rishikesh
On the first day of the new year the Rishikesh journalists association honoured Ganga Prem Hospice for its work in helping the local community.

Ganga Prem Hospice has been striving to play its part in reaching holistic healthcare, and emotional and spiritual support to people when they are going through the most trying times of their lives. It is this effort that was recognised by the people of Rishikesh as the New Year dawned on January 1, 2009. At an event organised by the Graameen Patrakaar Association (Rural Journalists Association) at the Rishikesh Nagar Palika campus to acknowledge and honour individuals and organisations that had been rendering service to the society in 2008, Ganga Prem Hospice was felicitated for bringing cancer care to patients in Rishikesh.

The political leaders present at the event, representatives of the Rishikesh Municipal Council and other civil society organisations appreciated Ganga Prem Hospice’s work to provide cancer care, home care services to terminally ill patients, and bereavement services to patients’ families.

The river Ganga at Rsihikesh

As a token of the people’s appreciation, Swami Madhavananda, General Manager, Ganga Prem Hospice, was presented with a shield, a shawl and a certificate of recognition.

Swami Madhavananda apprised the participants of how cancer care was much needed in Uttarakhand where six thousand new cases of cancer were being detected every year. “Unfortunately, cancer patients reach a doctor only when their disease has advanced so much that a cure is impossible and this is when medical care and emotional help is most needed”, said Swami Madhavananda. “Ganga Prem Hospice is a project to bring this much needed facility to Rishikesh and Uttarakhand”, added Swami Madhavananda.

Participants at the event as well as the political leaders present promised their help to the cancer-care initiative.

INDIA, Rishikesh , Dec. 28th , 2008
December Clinic 2008
The number of patients seeking cancer care at our monthly cancer clinic in Rishikesh sees an upswing.

The last Ganga Prem Hospice cancer clinic for the year 2008 was held on 28th December 2008 at the Punjab Sindh Kshetra Hospital in Rishikesh. Despite the severe winter cold, there were 33 patients who arrived for free consultation at the clinic. These patients hailed not just from Rishikesh and its immediate surroundings like Haridwar and Dehradun, but also from far-flung areas like Bijnor, Pauri, Uttarkashi and Tehri. With patients from almost every district of Garhwal, the December 2008 cancer clinic had considerable geographical outreach.

Dr Dewan with a patient at the cancer clinic

Almost half of the patients who attended the clinic were cancer patients. However as both national and local newspapers had covered Ganga Prem Hospice’s activities both before and after the scheduled clinic, not just cancer patients, but people suffering from other ailments also benefited from Dr Ajay Dewan’s expertise and the free medicines that were distributed at the clinic.

Among the cancer patients attended to by the Hospice team, the case of Jayamala Goel (Female, aged 72) was especially critical as she was identified as a Terminal Cancer case suffering from cancer of the gall bladder with sec. in liver and jaundice. Recognising the advanced nature of her cancer, Ganga Prem Hospice offered her home care service but just as the hospice team was preparing to visit her home two days later, she succumbed to her illness.

Madhu Rana, a Ganga Prem Hospice patient, was at the clinic for consultation and her disease, unfortunately, is progressing.

The December cancer clinic saw participation not just from the Rishikesh volunteers of Ganga Prem Hospice, but also from our UK and USA teams. April Pierrot, a journalist from London, and Diane Long, a yoga expert from USA, offered their services at the clinic, which saw substantial participation from volunteers who have chosen to contribute to the terminal cancer care initiative. Ganga Prem Hospice would like to especially mention the support of Mrs Geeta Kukreti, Mrs Vimla Sharma and Mrs Sudha Singh who have decided to give their help to the hospice project in Rishikesh.

Since September 2007, Ganga Prem Hospice has organised cancer clinics to offer services to cancer patients in Rishikesh and surrounding areas. The team is headed by Dr Ajay Dewan of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute of Delhi and consists of trained nurses, palliative-care and alternate medicine experts.

Mr. Ghai, whose loving presence makes everything gel so smoothly, was there and also Renu with her mother and Madhavanada, who is the new manager. It was so nice to have all of them together. It brought a nice energy.

We have yet another TICP, Suman Agarwal, living at IDPL, Rishikesh. A case of cancer right breast with brain met. I hope we will be able to support her in a meaningful way.

One of our patients who works in the horticulture department nearby volunteered to arrange to donate free saplings as and when our land gets finalised. So things seem to be moving forward positively.

Our trustworthy and experienced compounder in the clinic, Mr. Totaram Arya, celebrated the wedding of his daughter on Sunday at the Punjab Sindh kshetra. We invoke the blessings of the Lord on this partnership and wish the couple all the very best.

INDIA, Rishikesh, Nov. 1st 2008
Mr Raghuvir Ghai appointed as a Trustee
A new trustee is appointed to the board of Shradda Cancer Care Trust.