KUCHING: A local palliative care servicer, Two Tree Lodge Hospice received a visit from the Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah at its centre in Jalan Tun Jugah here yesterday.
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illnesses, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.
“We do need this palliative care for the terminally ill patients, the works and efforts done to the terminally ill patients were very inspiring. This initiative is very much welcome and appreciated,” said Fatimah.
During the visit, she suggested the centre to make a proposal to the state government for further assistants in term of funding, resources and others, as well as proposed them to have a strategic plan focusing on the services.
“Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching must work together with other same entities so that they can share the resources and other understanding matters together,” she added.
The centre is addressing suffering involves taking care of issues beyond physical symptoms. Palliative care uses a team approach to support patients and their caregivers. This includes addressing practical needs and providing bereavement counseling. It offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.
Palliative care is explicitly recognised under the human right to health. It should be provided through person-centered and integrated health services that pay special attention to the specific needs and preferences of individuals.
Many other conditions may require palliative care, including kidney failure, chronic liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disease, dementia, congenital anomalies and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Pain is one of the most frequent and serious symptoms experienced by patients in need of palliative care.
Opioid analgesics are essential for treating the pain associated with many advanced progressive conditions. For example, 80 percent of patients with AIDS or cancer, and 67 percent of patients with cardiovascular disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease will experience moderate to severe pain at the end of their lives.
Opioids can also alleviate other common distressing physical symptoms including breathlessness. Controlling such symptoms at an early stage is an ethical duty to relieve suffering and to respect the dignity of people.
