OONOOR, FEB 5:
The Nilgiris District Administration and the Health Department jointly launched the Pain Free Nilgiris project at the Lali Government Hospital in Coonoor on Friday. The project was inaugurated by District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru in the presence of P Senthilkumar, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, while Arun Thamburaj, Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, participated through video conference.
Speaking on the occasion, the District Collector said that the Pain Free Nilgiris project is a comprehensive district-wide pain and palliative care initiative launched for the first time in Tamil Nadu. The project aims to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as cancer, stroke-related disabilities and age-related diseases. The initiative is being implemented in a public-private partnership mode by the district administration and the health department in collaboration with the Microland Foundation and Pallium India.
It will function in coordination with the government’s flagship programme Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam. Under the project, the existing district nodal centre will be strengthened and home-based pain management services will be improved. Doctors and nurses will receive specialised training, and awareness will be created among the public about pain relief and palliative care services. The project also aims to reduce medical expenses for patients and their families, minimise unnecessary hospital admissions and ensure that no patient suffers without proper pain management.
Training programmes for medical staff on referral systems and specialised treatment will begin at the Government Medical College Hospital in Ooty. Among those present were Government Medical College Hospital Principal Dr Srinivasan, Joint Director of Medical Services Dr Rajasekaran, Deputy Director of Health Services Dr Somasundaram, Coonoor Municipal Council Chairperson Susheela, Resident Medical Officer Dr Ravishankar, Microland Foundation Founder Kalpanagar and representatives of Pallium India.
