LOVE and care for everyone irrespective of caste, religion, gender and politics is the motto of the palliative care movement in Kannur, Kerala, formed under the banner, ‘Initiative for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care’ (IRPC).
The IRPC takes up many ventures, the most important being the in-home caregiving. There are so many among us who are suffering from incurable diseases, chronic illness or geriatric ailments and the IRPC has taken up the responsibility to help them and give them proper palliative care.
To concentrate in the area of palliative care was one among the decisions of the Kerala state conference of the CPI(M). We are making all endeavours to implement this decision through the IRPC.

Our Party could gain the confidence and love of people through rendering consolation and relief to the toiling masses. It may be because of that trust, that even now whenever they have problems and hardships, people approach the Party. The palliative care activities will help us reinforce this trust.

The Congress, the BJP and the RSS came forward to set up alternate outfits since the IRPC had been formulated on the basis of the directives given by the CPI(M). But the Congress-BJP-RSS initiatives failed to go beyond infancy. The deep-rooted trust in our Party and the dedicated teams of active volunteers have helped the IRPC to leap forward.

When the initiative was formally inaugurated in 2012, an organisational system for palliative care came into existence across the district. We have a 21-member governing body and a five-member advisory committee with the Party district secretary as the chairman to give leadership and coordinate the activities of the movement at the district-level. We have been pursuing the method of suggesting committee system to lower levels. 18 zonal committees and 214 local-level groups serve as the core of the IRPC in the district. Groups comprising a minimum of 10 women and 10 men give leadership and engage in homecare. Our experiences are testimony to the fact that the volunteers gain more confidence and nursing mentality through the necessary, practical training provided to them at district and zonal levels.
Monetary concerns have never been an obstacle for these activities. The IRPC entered into many areas of philanthropic causes on the basis of experiences gathered during the first year of its functioning. It is through the in-home-care experience we could establish direct contact with many families facing numerous hardships.
Several unhealthy tendencies creeping into our society also came to the attention of the IRPC and we made serious discussions on intervening in new areas of concern also. That is how the IRPC began to take up different types of humanitarian missions in addition to home-care. As people wholeheartedly hail the activities of the IRPC, the Congress and the BJP are not in a position to openly oppose or criticise the endeavours of the organisation. With the support of the CPI(M), the IRPC is growing as a vigorous people’s movement.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee member P Lakshmanan contributed Rs 25,000 when the IRPC was spreading its wings. Again, he gave Rs 25,000 and 200 bedsheets to be distributed among the bed-ridden. This is the proof for the help rendered even by the opponents of the Party.
As the IRPC was excelling in its service and its approval among people was surging, the words and gestures of P PLakshmanan turned to be shockers to the Congress and the BJP.

The IRPC has turned out to be a movement which everyone can depend upon at any time. Every year, on January 15 and August 19, the IRPC conducts home-centred care campaign. The IRPC collects comprehensive data of the bed-ridden and renders them all necessary help.

Under the leadership of 218 local groups, the organisation started a survey in November 2017 and completed it on January 10, 2018. On January 13-14, 2018, a home-centred care campaign was held wherein the Party leaders also participated. Thus on January 15, we could lead Kannur to the prestigious position of palliative care-friendly district.

As many as 12,361 persons have been identified to be in dire need of palliative care. Among the bed-ridden, 56.38 per cent were women and 43.61 were men. The survey revealed that the number of cancer affected people was increasing. 18.25 per cent were suffering from cancer. In the district, 4.73 per cent people are reeling under chronic renal disease. 10.05 per cent were differently-abled. Based on the survey, the IRPC has decided to take up varied relief and rehabilitation works.

‘Kanivu’, a centre for rehabilitation for those who are paralysed below waist, was opened. We offered them training in making umbrella, soap, garments and the like that they could do with their hands. The IRPC rendered essential materials to make those items within the walls of their houses. The amount we could make from the sale of those products was given to them and that was of course a relief for their families.

Four years have passed since the IRPC started a health centre and a centre for the distribution of food items to Sabarimala pilgrims on the premises of Nelliyot Bhagavathy temple at Bakkalam on the national highway.
Every year thousands of pilgrims from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra seek the service of IRPC help desk where doctors and paramedics offer their service. Joining hands with Ranni Sukarma Health Foundation, Pathanamthitta, a help-desk providing free treatment and snacks has been functioning at Madathummuzhi Valiyapalam Junction, Perunad, since 2017.

Help-desks also function at several other festival centres. At Kottiyoor temple and Parassini Madappura, help-desks assist pilgrims. A centre has also begun to function at Muzhappilangad for rendering help to Sabarimala devotees.

In a joint-venture with AKG Hospital, Kannur, the IRPC started a free dialysis centre. The centre selects beneficiaries based on a foolproof parameter to figure out the most deserving ones. The IRPC aims at working in the area of relief and care missions considering the newly emerging requirements.

The IRPC could carry out several humanitarian missions within a short span of time. The IRPC had started awareness classes against drug addiction before the government launched the state mission for de-addiction ‘Vimukthi’.  The anti-substance abuse campaign was initiated by the IRPC by conducting awareness classes at panchayat level. A district-level de-addiction centre was opened at Mele Chovva.

The IRPC has launched a massive campaign raising the slogan ‘Freedom from intoxicants, Let us join hands for life’. Anti-drug awareness classes were conducted in all divisions in 171 higher secondary schools in the district. Later, similar classes will be organised in small towns. In continuation of this, vigilant groups will be formed at educational institutions and local bodies to trace the links of drug-trafficking mafia.

In tribal hamlets, a medical camp was conducted. The IRPC could also realise the extent of the cases of school dropouts and the inertia of students in these areas to attend schools. The regions also lack many amenities for learning. The domestic ambience of some families was least favourable for studies of children. We provided food to students and classes are conducted by expert teachers. Opportunities are also provided for those interested in sports. In 90 centres spread across the district, special classes are conducted for 998 students.
A mere observation of the participation in these classes will make one understand that the programme titled ‘Unarvu’, aimed at elevating the educational standards of these students, is highly successfull. ‘Unarvu’ has created a new awakening both among the students and families.
The active involvement of CPI (M) workers in these activities help the Party in maintaining regular contacts with the people of tribal hamlets and in effectively resisting the moves of extremist groups in those areas.

The IRPC has also started a family counselling centre to help people in strained relationships. Pre-marital counselling centres are another initiative deserving a special mention here. The IRPC counselling centre is a recognised centre of the Kerala State Minority Board.

Home-care programme helped us realise the deep sufferings of those affected by autism. A two-day camp was held as per the decision to interfere in the concerns of autism-affected people and their families. The IRPC palliative centre also provides free speech therapy and physiotherapy to the needy.
A group of volunteers was recruited in Kottiyoor and Iritty areas to help those who were thrown to innumerable sufferings by the terrifying floods that ravaged the hilly terrain. Help-desks were operated in rehabilitation centres. The floods threw the lives of many to utter helplessness. The counselling conducted under the auspices of IRPC counsellors was an altogether different experience. For about a month, volunteers along with the experts, camped in the area. Two vehicles were used day and night for the same. Volunteers stayed alert in landslide hit areas. In addition to medical camps, the distribution of food items was also done under the leadership of IRPC. The help-desk operated at the venue of the Kerala State School Arts Festival, the biggest children’s art event in Asia, and the one functioned to assist the job aspirants of military recruitment rally were genuinely distinct.
A round-the-clock help desk of IRPC has become functional in Kannur town to help stranded people, accident victims and others. The centre has become a shelter-home for the destitute in Kannur, which is the fastest urbanising district in the state.

Preparatory works have begun to set up a rehabilitation centre at Malappattam. The IRPC palliative centre at Thayyil has the facility to provide palliative care to 75 in-patients. An advanced physiotherapy unit also functions there. Bystanders are also provided free food. The in-patient facility has been arranged as part of the second phase of palliative care.

We reached a milestone in the history of palliative care in the district, when 610 patients were provided necessary service. A care-giving centre was opened at Sreekandapuram also. It is not a negligible fact that a collective could be formed in the district to help those who were pulling on their lives amidst many hardships.
The IRPC is really happy that it has become an impetus for the evolving of a number of ‘benevolent minds’ who came forward to render financial assistance to the needy, giving up many luxuries and festivities in their lives. The incidents of a bride giving her gold bangles on the wedding day to the palliative centre and a man donating money that he could save by simplifying his house warming function to the IRPC, are unforgettable. It was a quite emotional occasion when K K Shailaja, minister for health, contributed all the ornaments worn by her mother who passed away.

Several retired employees offer voluntary services at IRPC centres. Teachers, office staff and employees in cooperative sector, who have retired from service, have come forward offering free service and other contributions to the movement. The financial liabilities of taking up various missions are met by donations and contributions from people belonging to all walks of life.

Temple committees and Makham Uroos committees are contributing the amounts they could save after meeting their expenses. Many Sabarimala pilgrims commence their journey to the temple after making contributions to the IRPC as they consider that as a noble and virtuous act.

Funds are also collected through the donation boxes kept at houses and shops. In short, a culture of contributing a part of income to palliative activities has evolved in the district owing to the far reaching interventions of the IRPC in this regard.

We aim at opening palliative care units in all areas. On January 15, the Palliative Day, the Kannur district was declared the first palliative-friendly district in the state.

Communism is the greatest humanistic theory in the world. So, approaching the sufferers with the readiness to shower compassion and care is the duty and responsibility of every individual who loves the Party.