Current state and prospects of palliative care development in the region discussed in Luhansk
The press-conference was attended by media professionals, physicians, psychologists, scientists, specialists in medical education, NGO representatives, and experts – representatives of departments of Luhansk Oblast State Administration, Red Cross and others.
Participants of the press conference – Yenenko, head of Luhansk Charitable Foundation named after Yuri Yenenko, freelance specialist on palliative care of the Main Department of Health, Luhansk Oblast State Administration, and Shapovalova, head of the Department of Social Protection of the Main Department of Labor and Social Protection, Luhansk Oblast State Administration – presented information about the complex provision of palliative and hospice care to incurable and terminally ill patients. Other specialists covered more issues of palliative care. In particular, it was noted that palliative and hospice aid are rapidly developing. Thus, there are already 202 specialized palliative beds and 34 territorial centers of social services in Luhansk Oblast. The Luhansk Oblast medical college offers a course on “Palliative Care”. Oblast authorities significantly contribute to the development of rehabilitation institutions, houses for patients etc.
Luhansk Oblast charitable foundation named after Yuri Yenenko has organized a series of events, including international, on exchange of best practices. Charity events organized by physicians aimed at providing charitable help to palliative patients were also noted.
About 13 thousand of incurable patients require palliative and hospice care in the Oblast annually. The following illnesses cause the most severe and early death: cancer, AIDS, liver cirrhosis, tuberculosis, blood-stroke, some heart diseases and other illnesses affecting people today. According to physicians, the need in such complex aid will increase due to the aging of population, higher levels of morbidity of children in terms of incurable diseases. Almost every third family sooner or later faces the need of treatment and care for the terminally ill people of different age. “Do not ask for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for each of us”.
Therefore, the press-conference addressed the issue of prospects of palliative and hospice care development, introduction of new forms. In particular, participants discussed “hospices at home” or mobile hospices, creation and organization of multi-disciplinary brigades which would unite efforts of various specialists: physicians, junior medical staff, social workers, psychologists, priests, volunteers, lawyers, family of the patient and others. Additional efforts are required for terminally ill children who have to feel the joy of childhood at least in the last period of their life.
To celebrate our unity and humanity, strengthening of humanistic principles in treatment of the terminally ill people in modern society, the following events will be conducted in Luhansk Oblast in the frames of the Day “Sharing a Concern”:
October 15 – prayer in churches for terminally ill people, their families and medical staff, particularly in St. Peter and Paul Cathedral;
November 3 – National youth creative competition “Fight – and you will overcome” with official awarding of 50 winners of the competition in Luhansk and publishing a collection of works.
Participants of the press-conference received information materials, which can also be requested by email to: fond_luhansk@pochta.ru.
Source and photo: Luhansk Oblast Charitable Foundation named after Yuri Yenenko
Contact person: Yenenko Olena: tel. (0642) 63-70-10
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Activities for the Hospice and Palliative Care Day in the region are conducted with the support of the Public Health Program (component “Palliative Care”) of the International Renaissance Foundation in the frames of the project “World Hospice and Palliative Care Day – for the development of aid to severely ill patients in Luhansk Oblast”
