"OnCare Wellness and Palliative Care Centre will be a good place to heal, where cancer patients will be comfortable… a happy place that can provide respite to patients as well as care givers,” said Centre chief operating officer (COO) and trustee of N. K. Dhabhar Cancer Foundation (NKDCF) Dr Khurshid Mistry, addressing the gathering at the irCentre’s inaugural on October 5, 2017 in the Masina Hospital complex. Those present at the jashan and the ceremonies included trustees of NKDCF Dr Pouruchisti and Dr Jeyhan Dhabhar, Villie Daruvala, medical advisor oncologist Dr Boman Dhabhar; Masina trustees lawyer Burjor Antia and businessman Homi Katgara, and medical director of Masina, Dr Vispi Jokhi.
Mistry felicitated Antia "and in particular,” Katgara for their support in the setting up of the Centre. Managing director of Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group Shapoor Mistry and corporate executive Fali Sarkari, the two other trustees of Masina were not present. Khurshid recalled the help and support offered by the SP Group through their corporate social responsibility initiatives. Kekoo Colah, executive director within the Group accepted a memento on their behalf and conveyed the "very best wishes of the Group.” Acknowledging Jokhi’s support, Khurshid said, "We ran to him for every little thing.” The Godrej Group and suiting manufacturers Raymond have been regular donors to NKDCF too, Khurshid mentioned. In his short address, Antia expressed satisfaction that spirituality (in the shape of yoga) would be part of the services offered. Prayers hasten healing, was his message. Also felicitated were key supporters of the Foundation, including architect Kinnari Vora who remodeled pro bono the previously unused structure that now houses OnCare.
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness through prevention and relief of suffering. Large hospitals "only treat the disease, not the person, which is why services such as OnCare are necessary to complete holistic healing,” Khurshid, who has previously served as manager of the Indian Cooperative Oncology Network Trust from 2003 to 2016, informed Parsiana. "We do not intend to replace medical care except for pain and wound management,” Pouruchisti said. Fee structures will depend on the economic condition of the patients and needy ones will be treated free of charge.
Jeyhan gave the audience the genesis of OnCare. Referring to the passing away in 2007 of his grandfather Nariman, a corporate executive with the Godrej Group, he said: "We lost our anchor to pancreatic cancer.” The Foundation was set up in June 2011 by Nariman’s daughter-in-law Pouruchisti. It provides "all-round 360° care, monetary assistance, awareness about cancer and checkups for early detection,” Jeyhan informed the audience. "We understand what patients and families go through… our Centre will specialize in end of life care… There are very few services of this kind in the city that provide assistance to those who are not salvageable.” The website of the Foundation states their mission is "to promote and provide integrated and comprehensive cancer treatment for every patient suffering from curable, palliative or terminal cancer.”
Art and music therapy, counseling services, yoga, pranic healing, inputs on fitness, grooming lessons, pain management, occupational and speech therapy will be available on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Centre within the Masina Hospital complex. Patients can decide if they wish to stay all day or attend only certain sessions. Nutritional support and meals are part of the services on offer. "We want to give a good quality of life to our patients… a place where they can spend a cheerful day and go back to their homes,” noted Khurshid. The facility will be open to members of all communities.
A staff of seven including a medical oncologist will support the Centre with Pouruchisti doubling up as psychotherapist. The 2,500 sq ft area provided to the Foundation by the Hospital has a large hall, a rest area with a bed and lounge chairs, a physiotherapy room and a small pantry. The renovation of the building took nine months and was supported by the SP Group.
Zenobia Sachinwalla, administration-in-charge provided statistics of the work done by the Foundation since its inception six years ago via email to Parsiana. They have funded chemotherapy treatments for 3,670 patients and radiation for 72; free medicines have been provided to 691 patients and 5,200 have been given financial and advisory support for nutrition. Sixty-one patients have been provided with free surgeries. The Foundation has conducted 24 breast cancer detection camps in Bombay and Udvada since 2015 where 1,794 women have been screened. In a recent two-day camp in the eastern India state of Jharkhand, which included tests for early detection of breast and cervical cancers, head and neck cancers and general health, 261 patients were checked. Suspected cases of cancer were 101 and confirmed were 14, she notes.
A jashan by four mobeds of the Zarthoshti Anjuman Atash Behram and a humbandagi kicked off the evening. Daruvala led the audience in a meditation exercise, which served, as Pouruchisti mentioned, "a small glimpse of what the patients will also be offered.”
Besides Khurshid, Pouruchisti, Jeyhan and Daruvala, the trustees of the Foundation include retired businessman Hoshi Wadia and microbiologist Sanjula Luthra. Pouruchisti informed Parsiana that Luthra looks after the Delhi chapter of NKDCF. Devotional songs by Foundation’s supporter Ayantika Bhattacharjee and refreshments sponsored by well-wisher Viraf Baria rounded off the evening.
One can get in touch with the medical facility by contacting administrator Kadambari Choughale on 9821978811; email:
kadambari.oncare@gmail.com.