In a simple and serene function on February 22 at Puduvai Tamizh Sangam, Sanjeevan felicitated its 62 community volunteers and the three resource persons.

The programme began around 10 a.m. with the welcome speech delivered by Dr K. Suresh, Director of Sanjeevan Palliative Care. Dr Jaya Ramesh and Mr Vetriselvan shared the activities of the volunteers. 

The main objective of this workshop is to increase awareness about palliative care and encourage the enrolment of more community volunteers for the programme.

Shri Unnikannan, a resource person from Kerala, said that the rate at which palliative care patients are increasing is alarming. The sensitization programmes cannot achieve faster results in a short time. Hence, it will take a longer time and effort to get the results.

He suggested that continuous sensitization programmes should be conducted so that more community volunteers can be absorbed into the programme.

Shri Prakash, the General Secretary from Chennai Pain and Palliative Care, shared with the volunteers many interesting anecdotes that he has come across during his tenure. 

There was a group discussion with the volunteers, which Shri Unnikannan and Shri Saifu Mohammed chaired. The problems the volunteers faced during the training and while working with the patients and their families were discussed. The ways and means to rope in more volunteers were also discussed. The volunteers were asked if they would like any changes in their training pattern, and new modalities of training were also discussed.

Many volunteers shared their experiences, some good, some interesting and some pathetic. 

The Director of Sanjeevan, Dr Suresh, appreciated all the active community volunteers for giving their time in taking care of the palliative patients.

The programme was organized by the Sanjeevan team, Pondicherry.