Help at hand for chronic, bed-ridden patients in UAE, India

Extending a helping hand to patients suffering from incurable diseases, a group of UAE-based philanthropists and social workers have joined hands with the Al Rashid Centre for Disabled and Alpha Palliative Care.

'Touching Life Beyond Borders' is a charity initiative to provide palliative care to patients suffering from chronic diseases and set up palliative care units in the UAE and India.

Dr Mallika Sarabhai performing in Dubai for the cause of palliative care

Alpha Palliative Care units, formed by a UAE-based Indian businessman and social worker in 2005, offers voluntary help to bedridden patients in India suffering from incurable diseases.

KM Noorudeen, a UAE-based Indian businessman and Chairman of Alpha Charitable Trust who started the palliative care units, said the voluntary group is planning to set up palliative care centres in the UAE and other Gulf countries to help physically challenged people and patients suffering from advanced chronic diseases. 

Noorudeen set up the Alpha Palliative Care to take care of chronic patients, in memory of his elder sister, who died of cancer at an early age.

The palliative care units support patients who are send back from hospitals after doctors suggested there is no more treatment to cure them.

With the rapid spread of deadly diseases like cancer and renal failures, the number of poor patients needing a helping hand is on the rise and there is an acute shortage of palliative care in India.

The long-term plan of the group is to set up palliative care units in each district of India.

Efforts are on to start palliative care units in the UAE to provide palliative service to UAE nationals and expatriates suffering from chronic diseases.

Chronic disease requires management of their distress, financial and moral support.

There are many volunteers for the group in the UAE and other Gulf countries, who are constantly supporting the cause.  More than 10,000 patients suffering from acute diseases got a helping hand from the volunteers, 21 doctors and 84 nurses.

Alpha Palliative care units provide free medicine to the patients, moral and material support.

The volunteers reach out to the patients in their homes and try to alleviate the pain, symptoms of the disease and offer a psychological support.

Eminent Indian classical dancer and social worker, Mallika Sarabhai recently performed in Dubai to promote the cause of palliative care in the UAE.

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