NEWS ARCHIVE

INDIA, Rishikesh, October 25th, 2009
October clinic 2009
Two critically ill cancer patients advised immediate surgery and treatment.
Ganga Prem Hospice’s October cancer clinic came close at the heels of the October 10 and 11 World Hospice Day health camps. Even so, there were a total of 28 patients at the clinic on October 25th, 2009, nearly half of whom were cancer patients. It is a good sign that more and more cancer patients are now benefiting from our oncologists’ consultations. Dr Ajay Dewan (Senior Surgeon and Medical Director, Ganga Prem Hospice) was there to conduct preliminary checks and advise patients on future courses of treatment. Some of the cancer patients were follow-up cases who had already consulted Dr Dewan on many occasions before. There were three terminally-ill cancer patients at the clinic, two of whom were new cases for Ganga Prem Hospice.

Sadhu Arjun Nath, a terminally-ill lung cancer patient, who is under the care of the Hospice has been undergoing radiotherapy at the Himalayan Institute in Jolly Grant. The cost of his treatment, as well food, medicine and warm clothes, has been sponsored by Ganga Prem Hospice. He was at the clinic to report his progress to the oncologist. Two other terminally-ill cancer patients, both around 70 years of age, visited the clinic. One patient had throat cancer and the other was suffering from brain tumour. Both were in critical condition when brought to the clinic by their families. Dr Dewan advised immediate Tracheostomy for the throat cancer patient as he was having acute difficulty in breathing. The brain tumour patient was suffering convulsions when he was carried into the clinic. After his fit was over, Dr Dewan went through the plan of treatment the patient was being given and advised that he be given treatment that would reduce the swelling in his brain. Both these patients needed urgent palliative care treatment to soothe the acute distress symptoms they were experiencing in the advanced stage of the disease.

The patients at the clinic came not just from Rishikesh but also from the districts of Almora, Uddham Singh Nagar, Roorkee and Haridwar. Ganga Prem Hospice is happy to report that now we are offering services of three doctors at the clinic.

Dr Saxena with patients

Apart from oncology and gynaecology an Ayurved doctor is also at the clinic to advise patients. Dr Rajesh Saxena, our gynaecologist, examined two female patients and Dr JP Rathi, Ayurvedacharya, saw patients with general ailments and prescribed them Ayurvedic medicines for their health condition.

Sarojini Murthy, our palliative care counsellor and clinic in-charge not only directed patients to the doctors and maintained the records but also counselled patients on the doctor’s diagnosis and advice once the patients had seen the doctors. Patients with cancer especially need counselling to emotionally prepare them for treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sarojini Murthy, with her vast experience in patient care, puts the patients’ minds at ease about their impending therapies.

During the clinic The Hospice team, assisted by Punjab Sindh Kshetra-Nanki Devi dispensary assistant, Totaram Arya, took stock of the medicines donated by Arbro Pharmaceuticals, Delhi.

Our next monthly Charitable Cancer Clinic
November 29th, 2009, 9.00 am-1.00pm
at Sardarni Nanki Devi and Punjab Sindh Kshetra Clinic,
Haridwar Rd, Rishikesh. (opp. Choti Subzi Mandi)

U.K., New Malden, Surrey, October 17th, 2009
Deepavali celebrations fundraising event in U.K.
Gabrielle Steen organised a fund raising event on Diwali at her flat in New Malden Surrey.

A big THANK YOU to everybody who so generously supported our Fundraiser on Sat, 17th Oct. The beautiful event at the home of Nataraja (Gabriele Steen) in New Malden will hopefully serve as a template for future programmes. During the day, a variety of therapists offered 20 minute “taster” treatments. At £15 a treatment, both clients benefited, therapists made new contacts - and all the money went to the Ganga Prem Hospice.

A special thanks to Nataraja who organized everything so expertly, to Swami Saradananda, to the holistic therapists, and to the helpers who all gave their time and expertise to make this day possible. They raised the amazing amount of £1,008 for the Ganga Prem Hospice - a truly inspiring result in the current economic climate!

The day ended with an enjoyable talk by Swami Saradananda on the deeper meaning of Diwali. This was followed by a beautiful meditation and everyone lit a candle to symbolise the opening our hearts to receive the light of knowledge - and to celebrate Diwali.

Diwali at Nataraj's flat in New Malden, Surrey, U.K.

INDIA, Gohri Maphi, Raiwala, October 11th, 2009
The Foundation Stone of Ganga Prem Hospice
The Ganga Prem Hospice foundation stone was laid on 11th October 2009. The day saw medical experts, political leaders, and spiritual gurus come together for the cause of providing holistic care to terminally-ill cancer patients.

The second weekend of October 2009 was a special one for the Ganga Prem Hospice team and supporters. The hospice celebrated the World Hospice Day, October 10, with a health care camp in Rishikesh and on the 11th of October, the foundation stone of the hospice was laid at Gohri Maphi, Raiwala, Rishikesh. The laying of the foundation stone of Ganga Prem Hospice takes us a step closer to the initiation of the actual construction of the hospice. Although a sustained inflow of funds will be required to actually build the hospice in two years time as envisaged, the project is on its way with increased visibility and acknowledgement of our work for cancer patients. The hospice’s architectural design is being made by competent architects and support among the local community is steadily growing.

Swamini Pramananda overseeing the Bhoomi Poojan

The day of the laying of the foundation stone started early at seven in the morning with the four-hour bhoomi poojan ceremony. Priests from the Andhra Ashram, guided by Swamini Pramananda, Ganga Prem Hospice’s spiritual advisor, chanted mantras and prepared the site where the first brick of the Hospice was to be laid.

At the venue, the one-acre site of Ganga Prem Hospice, six health care camps started at 9 AM and continued throughout the morning along with the Foundation Stone Laying ceremony.

Village residents benefit from health camps

In the early morning, the residents of Raiwala, a village between the towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh started to trickle in, to get free consultations and checks ups by the cardio, optometry, gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopedic and oncology specialists.

A village lady from Rai Wala consults with Dr. Rupali

Dr Neeraj Jain with local children

Doctors from Delhi, New York, Rishikesh and Dehradun were on call to attend to patients, prescribe them treatment, and do free-of-cost checks at the health camp. A total of 168 patients benefited from the health camp on the 11th of October, 2009, in Raiwala, Gohri Maphi, Rishikesh.

The ceremony begins

Children from Ma Chetan Jyoti's Plaza Music Academy.

The ceremony began with Indian classical music vocal and instrumental presentations by the young musicians and singers of the Plaza Music Academy of Rishikesh. Led by their teacher, Shivananda Sharma, the children gave a skilled performance of the ragas.

The traditional lamp was lit early in the proceedings by our Chairman, Dr AK Dewan, Trustees, Mr Suresh Kathpalia, Nani Ma, Mr Raghuvir Ghai and Dr Rupali Dewan as well as other Hospice workers, volunteers and special guests of Ganga Prem Hospice.

Dr Dewan helping Nani Ma to light the traditional lamp

Meenakshi Shastri on the podium

Meenakshi Shastri, a poet, a Sanskrit scholar and an announcer with India’s oldest television channel, Doordarshan, was the co-ordinator and compère for the programme. Introducing every part of the programme with couplets of self-woven poetry, she held the special interest of the audience throughout the event.

Dr Ajay Kumar Dewan, Senior Surgeon and Medical Director of the Ganga Prem Hospice was amongst the first persons to speak at the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony. He spoke about how terminally-ill patients need to be accorded dignity and respect. “A terminally-ill patient is not afraid of death, but of the physical pain and prolonged hardship that accompanies it”, he said.

After Dr Dewan's speech Amelie Julien from the hospice 'Maison d'Herelle', Montreal, Canada presented Dr Dewan and the Ganga Prem Hospice with a manual on the use of herbs in holistic care. Amelie on behalf of 'La Maison d'Herelle' expressed the goodwill and hopes of a mutual exchange of knowledge between the two hospices.

Amelie Julien presents Dr Dewan with the manual.

Swamini Pramananda, the spiritual advisor of Ganga Prem Hospice, spoke about her personal experiences in generating support and funds for people in need. She cited the example of the Tsunami calamity of December 2004 in South India which caused colossal loss of life, and how people had donated generously at first, but later, lost their sensitivity towards the victims of the natural disaster. “People need to give from the heart and not from the mind”, Swamini Pramananda said, drawing an analogy towards how people needed to continue to contribute towards causes like caring for terminally-ill patients. Swamini Pramananda ended her talk with quotes from the Kathopanishad where the young Nachiketas asks the Lord of Death to reveal to him the secrets of death.

The Foundation Stone Laying Day had an interesting mixture of talks by oncologists, spiritual gurus and political leaders. Nani Ma spoke a few words expressing the Shradha Cancer Care Trust's desire to help in carrying the cancer burden in Uttarkhanda while local political leaders spoke of their gratitude that the Trust has chosen this area as their field of service.

Dr Sunil Saini from the Himalayan Institute, Dehradun

Dr Sunil Saini, senior oncologist at the Jolly Grant-based Himalayan Institute, drew the audience’s attention to the holistic aspect—of how to deal with cancer and how to prevent it not just by avoiding the physical causes, but also mental and emotional. Touching on the sensitive subject of the decision that cancer patients and their families have to make about whether or not to continue to fight cancer in the last stages, Dr Saini said,

“An expensive line of treatment for advanced stage cancer, which brings more grief to the patient than actual physical comfort, should be reconsidered”. Dr Saini spoke about his connection with Ganga Prem Hospice and how his earlier acquaintance with Dr Ajay Dewan as a senior cancer surgeon has grown into a closer understanding of the need for terminal cancer care. “Dr Dewan has decided to make a hospice in this far-out place and I am both proud of him as well as impressed with the cause.”

Swami Gyananand of Vrindavan, a renowned scholar of the Bhagavad Gita graced the Ganga Prem Hospice Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony by speaking on the spiritual aspects of life and death.

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ arrived after being delayed somewhat by a spontaneous welcome given to him by Raiwala villagers at a local school building a little distance away from the Ganga Prem Hospice site.

Amidst the jostling crowd the foundation stone plaque was unveiled and honoured by the Chief Minister. He was then led to the ceremonial pit where he laid the Foundation Stone amid great excitement and enthusiastic chanting of Vedic mantras. All joined in as the Chief Minister repeated after the pundits 'Sthiro bhava'-'Be firm', " Be firm'

Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal puts the tilak on the plaque.

The crowed venue at Ganga Prem Hospice Site

The venue was filled to capacity by the time Dr Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ started to speak about care for terminal illnesses. He touched upon the spiritual aspect of death and said that in the Indian context particularly, there was little attachment to the body even though humans are the most beautiful creations of nature.

Speaking about the significance of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in ‘creating health’, Dr ‘Nishank’ said, “The founder of Ayurveda, Charakh, belonged to this land and the fabled Sanjeevani herb (the life giving herb) was also taken from these Himalayan peaks”. Playfully drawing an analogy from the epic Ramayana, the Chief Minister called upon Dr Ajay Dewan of Ganga Prem Hospice to be the legendary ‘Vaidya Sushain’ and said that the life-saving ‘Sanjeevani’ herb was already there; what was needed was somebody to administer it to the ailing.

Speaking in an informal style, Dr ‘Nishank’s’ speech was often punctuated by applause from the audience. Soon after, the Chief Minister released the Ganga Prem Hospice special souvenir publication, “Voice for palliative cancer care in India”.After he spoke, many people gathered around the dais to greet Dr ‘Nishank’ and the Chief Minister cheerfully gave people his time and listened to them.

The Chief Minister releasing the GPH souvenir.

The Chief Minister honours Dr Dewan

There was an impromptu round of pleasant exchange of greetings between him and some of GPH volunteers and special guests. As Dr Dewan approached the Chief Minister to welcome and honour him the Chief Minister took the opportunity to honour Dr Dewan by placing a mala around his neck and thanking him for his work in Uttarkhanda.

There were assurances of support as well, from the administration. The Legislative Assembly representative of the Rishikesh area, Mr Prem Aggarwal, promised that the four-kilometre road stretch between the main road and the Hospice site would be repaired soon to enable a smooth ride to the Hospice.

While the event was going on, several teams of doctors and medical specialists were attending to patients who had come from the neighbouring villages for free consultations.

Cardiologists, optometrists, oncologists, paediatrics, orthopaedics and gynaecologists attended to patients. The maximum number of patients, however, were seen by the optometrists from New York and the team of cardiologists from Fortis Escorts, Delhi.

Both, the optometry team from VOSH-New York, and the cardiology team from Fortis Escorts, had brought excellent equipment to test for any eye and cardiac problems. The optometry team gave out free eye-glasses and the cardiology team did ECG and ECHO tests free of cost for more than one hundred patients.

Anuj Gupta with Suresh and Bindu Kathpalia

Ganga Prem Hospice had several volunteers helping at the site and thanks all of them for their support. We are especially thankful to Anuj Gupta of Delhi, who managed the pre-event operations along with the Ganga Prem Hospice general manager, Madhavananda,, Emelie Julien of Canada who is a visiting Hospice worker and helped with the VOSH optometrists with their work, Daniel Reid

who was so helpful with the arrangements at the venue, Meenakshi Shastri, who handled the job of a compère so professionally, Indu Bala Arora and Sharda Jain, both readers with the University of Delhi, and many more such people who made the foundation stone laying day ceremony possible. The bhoomi poojan was sponsored by a donation from Sylvia Dora Pueschel of Switzerland.

Volunteers at work helping the doctors in the clinics

Lala Shiv Charan Agrawal showed great kindness by sponsoring the entire cost of food and refreshments at the venue. He also participated in the bhoomi poojan as a yajaman.

Our Public Relations Officer, Pooja Dogra, and Suzanne Marr, from the UK, are especially thanked for their meticulous work in editing the souvenir and getting it ready in time for the event.

Ganga Prem Hospice owes gratitude towards the doctors and medical specialists who gave free consultations to hundreds of patients within a span of a few hours. Dr Vijay Kumar, Dr Pravin Kumar Bharti, Dr (Major) Pankaj Kumar, Dr Umesh Pushp and the rest of the Cardiology team from the Community Outreach Programme Unit of the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, Delhi; Veronica Ruelas OD, and Anshu Chandra OD, of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, New York, Inc. Shankar from Israel who so ably and tirelessly assisted the VOSH team; and Dr Neeraj Jain, paediatrician—all of the above doctors and specialists offered their services to the patients, and Ganga Prem Hospice hopes they will continue to support us in the future.

The Rotary Club Shyampur is thanked for arranging for the free health check-up camps on 11 October, 2009, in Raiwala, Rishikesh.

INDIA, Rishikesh, October 10th, 2009
World Hospice Day health camp in Rishikesh
Ganga Prem Hospice marked the World Hospice Day, 10th October 2009, by organising a free check up health care camp in the heart of Rishikesh, at Jai Ram Ashram, Triveni Ghat.

Dr Vijay Kumar checks an ECG report

The four streams of checkups offered were cardiology, optometry, oncology and gynaecology. The consulting experts were Dr Ajay Dewan from Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi, in the oncology section ; Dr Vijay Kumar and his team from Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, Delhi, in cardiology;

Dr Veronica Ruelas, OD, and Dr Anshu Chandra, OD, of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, New York, in optometry, and Dr Rupali Dewan, Safdurjung Hospital, Delhi, and Dr Rajesh Saxena, MBBS, Rishikesh, in gynaecology.

A GPH volunteer, Sharda, translates for Dr Veronica.

Dr Dewan with an elderly patient at the WHD camp

It was a very successful camp with a high patient turnout. In the four hours of the camp, the doctors attended to 150 patients who mostly came from the poorer sections of the local community. The oncology section, led by Dr Ajay Dewan, Senior Surgeon, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, saw 23 patients, two of whom were terminally-ill with cancer.

The camp had been publicised by Rotary Club, Rishikesh, and this contributed to the scores of patients coming to avail of eye-care (approximately 75) and cardiology tests (approximately 50) by top-of-the-line professionals. Free eye-glasses and eye drops were distributed by the VOSH team to the patients.

GPH volunteers register patients at the free camp

Ganga Prem Hospice volunteers led by Sarojini Murthy manned the registration desk and saw to the patients needs by guiding them to the appropriate doctors and arranging seating etc. The residents of Rishikesh were very grateful for the camp, which was reported in the local media.

INDIA, Rishikesh, September 27th, 2009
September clinic 2009
Cancer patients form a majority at the September clinic

On 27th September 2009, Ganga Prem Hospice held its free monthly cancer clinic at Sardarni Nanki Devi and Punjab Sindh Kshetra Charitable Dispensary in Rishikesh.

It is festival season now and due to Navratras and the impending Dusshera, there were fewer patients. Our Medical Director & Oncologist’s late arrival due to a car breakdown however did not cause much inconvenience to the patients because of their fewer numbers. Eleven out of the seventeen patients were cancer patients and it was satisfying for the Ganga Prem Hospice medical team to see that cancer patients were now in the majority and benefiting from expert medical advice.

Many of the eleven cancer patients were follow-up cases but two (a male and a female, 30 and 53 years of age respectively) were new cancer patients. They had undergone surgery for cancer and had come for further advice and a check up at the Ganga Prem Hospice cancer clinic. One of our terminally-ill patients, Arjun Nath, has been admitted to the HIHT hospital in Dehradun for 5 weeks of radiotherapy. His disease is advanced but he is keeping his spirits up.

Sometimes patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy come for consultations with the GPH oncologists. There are also those patients who belong to Rishikesh, have been operated upon in hospitals in Delhi, and come to the GPH clinic as here they can afford quick and cost-free expert advice.

Since many of our patients are from neighbouring towns like Roorke, Haridwar and Dehradun, our palliative care counsellor and clinic manager, Sarojini Murthy, often gets enquiries over the phone as to whether Dr Ajay Dewan will be available for the monthly clinic.

Dr Rathi, an Ayurvedic doctor working at the Paramarth Niketan dispensary, came over to meet Dr Dewan and expressed his interest in serving the patients at the clinic every month. Dr Dewan welcomed him and he prescribed ayurvedic remedies to a few patients.

The clinic was also attended by our Rishikesh-based Trustee - Mr Raghuvir Lal Ghai, our Manager - Swami Madhavanand, our volunteers - Kamla Bhasin, Geeta Kukreti and Sudha, and our pharmacist, Sri Totaram, all of whom assisted Dr Ajay Dewan during the clinic and interacted with the patients. The next lot of medicines donated by Arbro Pharmaceuticals had reached Rishikesh and was sorted and classified by our pharmacist for free distribution to patients in need.

INDIA, Rishikesh, August 30th, 2009
August clinic 2009
Two new patients were diagnosed with advanced cancer, one lady with cervix cancer and a man suffering from base of tongue cancer.

The August monthly cancer clinic was organised on August 30, 2009. The monsoon months are a difficult time for the patients as the rains make reaching the clinic at Sardarni Nanki Devi Dispensary more time-consuming. However, there were 33 patients at the clinic and it was a busy day for the Hospice team.

Banner outside of the free cancer clinic in Rishikesh.

The doctors gave information and consultation to these patients, 16 of whom were cancer patients two who terminally-ill patients. The terminally ill patients traveled from the neighbouring towns of Moradabad and Narendra Nagar to obtain advice from the Ganga Prem Hospice oncologist, Dr Ajay Dewan. Mr. Ghai, Madhavananda, Sarojini, Kamala, Mr. Arya and other staff assisted at the clinic.

Both the terminally ill patients, one male (60 yrs) and one female (45 yrs), belonged to the lower middle class income group and had base of tongue and cervix cancer respectively. Dr. Dewan, after studying the investigation reports and conducting clinical examination on the patients, arrived at the conclusion that the two patients were now terminally-ill. The female patient is already very weak from her disease and was accompanied by her husband to the clinic. The family and the patient were unaware of the advanced state of the patient’s cervix cancer disease.

The male patient was advised palliative chemotherapy. Even though chemotherapy at this stage will not cure the disease, it is likely to give him some symptomatic relief.

Sadhu Arjun Deva waiting to see Dr. Dewan

One of our lung cancer patients, Sadhu Arjun Dev (aged 54) will be accompanied by Ganga Prem Hospice’s palliative care expert, Sarojini Murthy, to the Himalayan Institute in Jolly Grant for his first round of radiotherapy. The destitute patient’s cost of treatment as well as necessary food and nourishment are being sponsored by the Hospice since he first came to GPH in April.

Dr. Dewan left three Fentanyl patches with the Hospice palliative care team in Rishikesh for use by patients with severe pain symptoms. The Fentanyl patches have been very helpful to alleviate symptomatic pain in advanced stage of cancer. These patches are expensive to buy and under-privileged patients can often ill-afford to get this kind of relief. Each patch's efficacy lasts for three days.

“There is a sense of satisfaction and reassurance among the patients that expert advice is available in Rishikesh”, said Sarojini Murthy who is responsible for interacting with the patients and maintaining a record of their treatment details for the Hospice.

Our next monthly Charitable Cancer Clinic
September 27th, 2009, 9.00 am-1.00pm
at Sardarni Nanki Devi and Punjab Sindh Kshetra Clinic,
Haridwar Rd, Rishikesh. (opp. Choti Subzi Mandi)

INDIA, Delhi, August 20th, 2009
Dr. Dewan addresses Rotary Club in Delhi
The Rotary Club meeting of the Delhi Ridge area was held at the Holiday Club in Panchsheel Enclave on 20th August, 2009. Dr. Dewan addressed the gathering of 20-25 people on the topic “Cancer Awareness”.

Dr. Dewan delivered a speech and gave a presentation on various aspects of Cancer including cancer and our lifestyle, how to take precautions, how to prevent icancer, possible treatment and the last stage of the illness. The audience were encouraged to participate in the discussion that followed the talk.

Cancer is at a critical junction in our country. India is faced with its own mammoth challenge of dealing with a multiplying number of cancer cases in the country. With the country’s fragile health care system, cancer poses not just a medical challenge but also a human one. India has 10 lakh new cases of cancer every year and 75% of these cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the chances of survival have already diminished substantially, therefore it becomes all the more important to spread awareness about cancer.

During the meeting, Dr. Dewan cleared a lot of myths about cancer and informed people about the different types of cancer common in men and women. There was a lot of discussion on the use of tobacco and passive smoking.

The audience actively participated in the discussion by asking various questions to clear their doubts. The audience reaffirmed the importance of creating cancer awareness and expressed their willingness to join hands with GPH by providing funds and volunteers. They also promised to arrange another talk by Dr. Dewan with a larger audience so that the message reaches further on.

Dr. Dewan speaking with members of Delhi Rotary club

Mr Suresh Kathpalia, the Ganga Prem Hospice accountant and our part time secretary, Bhuvi, accompanied Dr. Dewan at the rotary club meeting.

INDIA, Raiwala, August 10th, 2009
Work starts at the Ganga Prem Hospice Site
On the 10th of August, 2009, work started on building of an approach road to the Ganga Prem Hospice site in Raiwala, Rishikesh. At the same time work on the boundary wall has also been started.

The road to the hospice site under construction.

The Ganga Prem Hospice land is five kilometers away from the main Rishikesh, Haridwar road. An approach road is required for the 500m stretch that connects the hospice land to the arterial road.The hospice General Manager, Swami Madhavanand, has been liasioning with the authorities as well as the Raiwala village representatives to ensure a smooth start to the road and boundary wall construction work.

The negotiations came to a successful conclusion and work on the road was started on Monday the 10th August. At the same time, work is in progress on building a three-feet high boundary wall around the one acre site.

Madhavananda supervising work at the hospice site.

Efforts are on to lay the foundation stone of the facility in October 2009. The ceremony, called the ‘Shilanyas’ is a very important one for the commencement of any construction activity and the Hospice team is gearing up for the event.