The third event of the “Protection of Life” project of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation “Hesed Besht” together with the International Renaissance Foundation was held on October 4, 2017 in the city of Starokostyantyniv. It was attended by representatives of the public, people in need of palliative care and those who have already joined it for the benefit of others, employees of city social structures. The topic that came into focus of our project turned out to be extremely relevant in this region, and examples of successful use of care were given from common experience.
Project manager Lyudmila Shvartsman began the event, as has become traditional, with a story about the importance and relevance of the issue of palliative care in modern society. The difference between palliative care and palliative medicine did not have to be revealed. After the presentation of the project and its preliminary results, the floor was given to the local ophthalmologist of the Starokostyantynivka Central Regional Hospital, volunteer Selivanova Klavdia Evgenivna. She updated the issue of palliative care, spoke about the state of this phenomenon in the city and the public's efforts to improve the situation. Although the field of activity of an ophthalmologist is not included in the list of those where palliative care is extremely necessary, unfortunately, almost all seriously ill people have visual impairments added to the general diagnosis. That is why Klavdia Evgenivna emphasized the importance of taking into account the specifics of helping people with low vision. The ability to see provides a person with almost 90% of all information from the world around them, and its loss significantly demoralizes the patient.
As for examples of palliative care, there was a well-known situation in Starokostyantyniv. Local artist Vilen Kurman, a well-known and respected author of many paintings on the theme of landscapes of his native land, at the end of his life fell into the clutches of a serious illness. And although his life ended in a hospice, before getting there, for several years Mr. Kurman received help from relatives, friends and those who cared, including employees of the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation “Hesed Besht”. This allowed him to cope with the disease for a long time and continue to create for future generations. Therefore, the example of his story became the best illustration of the difference between palliative care and medicine.
Members of the "Defend for Life" project team Lyudmila Novitska, Raisa Gelman, Vyacheslav Nagnybida and volunteer Leonid Zapadenko fulfilled their part of the joint task, talking about legal aspects, the history of the development of assistance and features in different cultures, demonstrating examples and videos on the topic. The story of Victoria Polisyuk, who has already become a symbol of those who have not been defeated by the disease in the region, did not leave those present indifferent.
The next time the project will visit the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi, after which a mass event will be held in the regional center. Every day the project is expanding throughout the region and finding new supporters for whom palliative care is necessary and important.
