A networking meeting on palliative care was arranged by AYAT Education for journalists of the Bandar Press Club in the Narayanganj district on Thursday, February 22, at 11 a.m. The meeting was part of the ‘Mamatamay Narayanganj’ project.
Bandar Press Club President Mubarak Hossain Kamal Khan chaired the meeting facilitated by AYAT Education Project Coordinator Sumit Banik. Among others, press club general secretary Mohiuddin Siddiqui, Kabir Hossain, Nasir Uddin, Md Shah Jamal, Latif Rana, Billal Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Munna, Iqbal Hossain, Shahidul Islam Shipu, Yusuf Ali Pradhan and many others were present.
In his speech, Sumit Banik said, ‘Media and journalists act as catalysts to create a supportive environment for talking about palliative care in society, as well as by interviewing healthcare professionals, policymakers, lawyers and patients, journalists discuss the importance of integrating palliative care into the mainstream healthcare system. There are opportunities to contribute to important tasks like creating. We believe such activities will not only increase awareness but also encourage public involvement and support for the respective policies. which will accelerate access to and access to affordable palliative care for everyone.
Bandar Press Club President Mubarak Hossain Kamal Khan called for increasing the range of palliative care in Bandar Upazila and said, “This initiative is undoubtedly commendable. Many terminally ill people in our society suffer mental breakdowns, along with their family members. Many people are oppressed by society in many cases, so we all should stand by patients suffering from incurable diseases. Also, as a media worker, I think it is my responsibility to cooperate in the successful implementation of the project.”
Md. Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Field Officer of Mamtamay Narayanganj Project said, ‘Our service process is not disease-centric, it is patient-centric. We are involving people from various professions in the project activities so that we can convey information about our services to all levels of society. It is not possible to improve the quality of life in the last period of a person’s life only with medicines, for this, the sincere participation of the society and the patient’s family members is needed.
After the presentation of the speech, the local journalists presented their opinions in the question-answer session. Assistant Field Officer Sarwar Alam, Community Mobilizer Ananna Rahman, and Fahim Hossain were also present in the meeting on behalf of AYAT Education.
It should be mentioned that the integration of palliative care into primary health care is the primary goal of this three-year pilot project called “Mamatamay Narayanganj.” Palliative care refers to the body of knowledge in medicine intended to provide patients with incurable, life-limiting illnesses with a painless, secure, and suffering-free final phase of their lives.
Mamtamay Narayanganj Project is working tirelessly with the help of Narayanganj City Corporation to provide palliative care to terminally ill patients at the City Health Center and Bandar Upazila Health Complex. The project partners are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), AYAT Education, World Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), and St Christopher’s Hospice (UK).
