During a recent World Hospice and Palliative Care Day event in Thrissur, acclaimed writer Sara Joseph passionately articulated her belief that true comfort and solace can only emerge from a heart that genuinely shares in the suffering of others. Her words resonated deeply with the attendees of the event, organized by the Pain & Palliative Care Society.
Joseph emphasized that empathy—the profound capacity to grasp and feel another’s pain—is an essential virtue everyone should cultivate. She also pointed out a significant societal oversight: the prolonged avoidance of open discussions about an individual’s fundamental right to a peaceful and dignified passing.
The event, held at the prestigious Changampuzha Hall of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, also featured E. Divakaran, co-founder of the Pain & Palliative Care Society, Thrissur. He expanded upon this year’s global theme: ‘Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care,’ underscoring its profound importance.
Divakaran detailed how palliative care provides holistic support not just for individuals battling severe or age-related illnesses, but also for their entire families. He proudly noted that ‘Kerala continues to set the national standard in delivering palliative care, largely due to the enthusiastic participation of its younger generations.’
He concluded by stressing that realizing the vision of universal palliative care hinges on robust community involvement and the seamless integration of palliative services across all facets of patient-centered healthcare.