International Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care held in Sylhet

Ayat Education has completed its second round of programs on Palliative Care in Sylhet division in Bangladesh that began on 06 September and ended on 12 September 2018. Palliative Care is comparatively a new – but emerging health care issue that needs the attention of all concerned in healthcare sectors as well as from the recipient’s side for ensuring the right care to ease their sufferings.

The Sylhet program approach was comprehensive – dealt with the strategic points of establishing a common understanding, transfer of knowledge and skills and capacity building of the healthcare professionals and development of infrastructures for cancer and palliative care medicine for the people of Sylhet as well as for Bangladesh.

Sylhet Program highlights:

• Seminar on Cancer and Palliative Care for Sylhet was delivered by the experts and senior faculty members of  Harvard University – Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Boston along with the national and local experts with keynote presentations followed by lively discussions on the whole range of cancer screening, identification, care, and prevention issues. And concluded with the question of how are we addressing palliative care in Bangladesh in terms of communication with patients and the ethical aspects of cancer and palliative care.
• Surgery – transfer of knowledge and skills held under the supervision of Professor Dr. AnneKatheryn Goodman, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard, Boston for the female patients with cancer;
• Oncologists and Hematologists – Tumor Boards at  the lead medical college hospitals; and
• ELNEC (End-of-Life Training for Health Care Providers) for the nursing professionals of Sylhet was delivered by the MGH Boston team.
• Community Outreach Program – National and International Experts emphasized the importance of youth engagement to create awareness and community support system for Capacity building initiatives regarding Palliative Care at the American Corner in Sylhet.

National Professor Dr. Shahla Khatun inaugurated the 6-day long program. The honorable Minister Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh ended the program with the promise to bring the issue to the government attention. Mr. Tahsin Aman, Chairperson of Ayat Education, considering the magnitude of the work, called upon for private-public partnership.

Dr. Bimalangshu R. Dey, Associate Professor Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston and his team of nurses from MGH provided the technical support, along with the national and local experts of Sylhet division. Ayat Education, with support from Sylhet Medical College Hospital and North-East Hospital, facilitated and coordinated the program. The Daily Star was involved as a media partner of the event. Ms. Nusrat Aman, Chief Petron of Ayat Education facilitated the entire program of six days in Sylhet.

Ayat Education is a social enterprise that aims to contribute to national skills development initiatives through up-skilling of national professionals and fit them into the global standard. Dignifying Life through Palliative Care has a long-term vision and target of Ayat Education.