IAHPC sponsored Doctors Reena Mary George and Jacob Alexander from the Palliative Care Program at Christian Medical College in Vellore, India to attend the International Conference on Grief and Bereavement, in London, UK on July 2005. IAHPC is glad to have been able to support these palliative care leaders as part of our goal to improve education in palliative care around the world.
Dr. Jacob Alexander
Dr. Reena Mary George
"Participating in this Conference was a memorable opportunity to hear the leading workers in bereavement research and to become aware of new developments in this fied. I was deeply moved to hear about simple community level bereavement interventions that have beeln applied in conflict affected areas in Africa and Asia, which can be modified for use in our context. The setting up of the Asia Africa bereavement group will help us keep in continued professional contact and we were able to network with palliative care workers from around the world.
We established a twinning relationship with St Ann's Hospice Weston and I had a very and useful visit to St Christopher’s hospice London. I have gained a better understanding of grief and bereavement, which can be applied both in our clinical work as an interdisciplinary team and in teaching medical students and postgraduates. I am struck by the need to link bereavement support with social economic rehabilitation for the bereaved family in resource poor countries and would like to explore how this can be better done in our clinical services. We would like to develop training programmes for social workers and counselors that address both these domains.
Our links with the Asia Africa group will help us share knowledge and experience in bereavement support in a non Western context and to reflect on culturally sensitive research projects.
The IAHPC Office was very helpful and efficient in processing my application. Thank you very much for your help and support."
Dr. Reena Mary George
Palliative Care Care Unit
Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
