First specialized department of palliative care for ATO members

On August 28 the Wounded Warrior Aid Center and the Main Military Clinical Hospital inaugurated a specialized palliative care department created exclusively at the expense of charitable funds.

On August 28 the Wounded Warrior Aid Center and the Main Military Clinical Hospital inaugurated a specialized palliative care department created exclusively at the expense of charitable funds.

This eight bed department was built for ATO members wounded in the ATO area, who are in a coma or sopore, and require long-term medical treatment with elements of critical care monitoring and intensive care.

The department of this type is the first one in the medical institutions of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine and is the prototype of the military-medical hospice. Now the country has only a few centers for palliative civilian patients, and none of them is suited for patients with specific injuries obtained during the war. Premises of the newly created department are equipped with the system of ventilation, oxygen supply, video surveillance and background music. A special lounge was created for parents of the wounded.

The new department was built from scratch in a little more than six months. At the beginning of the year there was no place for treatment of critically wounded soldiers who are in a coma. Our defenders were lying fainting in unsuited premises of the military hospitals which were not repaired for a long time and their relatives had nowhere to rest and even to eat. Now the new department has one critically wounded ATO member, the fight for his recovery is going on for almost a year. It is this department that will become a center for all critically wounded patients from all Ukrainian military hospitals.

The opening of this center is an example of efficient cooperation between the command of the National Military Medical Center, the charitable initiative “Wounded Warrior Aid Center” (project of the Aid Center Foundation) and caring volunteers.

The construction began in early February 2015, funded solely by means of philanthropists. Half of materials and works were provided to the Foundation by caring volunteers, whereas the rest was purchased with funds raised as a result of numerous campaigns and charitable contributions. Equipment, special furniture and medical apparatuses were procured owing to charitable contributions, including those that came through the Ukrainian Charity Exchange.

During six months hundreds of businesses and individuals joined the initiative, and the project itself has become widely known in public. Two dismantling events organized by volunteers became a vivid example of unity and strength of the capital city community. Domestic small and medium-sized businesses were not standing on the sidelines either; they helped with materials and money: design works were performed by DREAM DESIGN studio, electric assembling works were carried out by GOAL company, plumbing wad done by Clear Water company, the ventilation system was provided by a company from Kirovograd ROMKOR, the cables were procured by Lapp Ukraine company, the ceiling was provided by Kraft Deckensysteme Ukraine, floor-cloth was supplied by Carpet House company, paints were kindly presented by VOGUE INTERIORS showroom, tiles were brought by Etalon-K company whereas the Ukrainian Furniture Association helped with the furniture.

In order to raise additional funds, a great number of charitable campaigns were conducted: a charitable auction conducted together with the auction house “Ducat”; a fundraising campaign during “Coriolanus” Opera performance directed by Vlad Troitsky; a joint campaign “Help to Guardian Angels” conducted together with Ringoo network of shops; cooperation with the Ukrainian Fashion Week within the framework of the charitable initiative “Ukraine Inspired”; charitable online auction “Star Wardrobe” with the national jazz singer Jamala; the cooperation with 1+1 TV channel.

Repairing old hospital buildings for the future center, workers of the Wounded Warrior Aid Center consulted with experienced professionals in the field of palliative care. They were able to give recommendations of great values regarding different nuances of treatment of such patients. Within the framework of cooperation with the International Renaissance Foundation the medical workers received special training on treatment of such patients. As a result of this teamwork, they managed to establish not only wards with monitors and medical ventilators, but also decent conditions for patients and their family members. That is why the project aiming to create this clinic department was called “Dignity”.

Contacts: Wounded Warrior Aid Center info@centr-dopomogy.org, tel. 044 451 83 10, www.cdp.org.ua

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