October 15, 2010, Kherson – a social action “Sharing the Care”, dedicated to the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, was held in front of the film theatre “Ukraine”.
The action aimed at drawing attention of city residents to existing problem of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in the region.
Today the number of TB cases exceeds the epidemic threshold. The date rate among residents of the region reached 23 cases per 100 thousand people in 2009. According to official data, 51 children with HIV infection were registered in Kherson Oblast at the beginning of 2010, 17 children out of them were diagnosed AIDS; and 21 teenagers with active TB – in the first half of 2010.
At present, there is no single hospice chamber for people with TB and AIDS in terminal stages. People, whom medicine is unable to help, are left face to face with their fears and pain. Progression of diseases destroys the normal flow of one’s life.
Kherson oblast charitable foundation “Mangust”, with the financial support of the International Renaissance Foundation and together with partners – Kherson oblast and city center of social services for families, children and youngsters and charitable project “Unchildish pranks” – conducted an action and sociological poll to find out the level of people’s awareness about the existing problem of hospice and palliative care, the difficulties faced by a person while providing care to terminally ill relatives and who needs hospice chambers in the city.
During the event, all visitors received free tea (green, black, fruit) in order to show how comfortable it is to receive and share warmth and pleasant conversation when it is cold outside. At the time of action, calm beautiful music was playing, and large sheets of paper lay on the ground, which visitors could pick up and write down their warm wishes and express condolences to sick people. It was also offered to symbolically struck AIDS and TB diseases in a bow shooting gallery “Break the disease”.
In addition, there was an auction of wooden products, kindly provided by the Department of Ukraine for Execution of Sentences in Kherson Oblast. Funds from the sale of goods will be donated for the terminally ill patients in Kherson regional TB dispensary.
During the action campaign, a number of other interesting and educational activities were held: dissemination of information materials on TB, HIV/AIDS, palliative care, applying aqua make-up, acrobatic performances, surveys and more.
350 UAH were collected as a result of the action. These funds will be used for purchasing humanitarian aid to severely ill people.
Source and photo: Kherson oblast charitable foundation “Mangust”
Contacts: tel. +38 (0552) 27-90-42, 27-01-64
