A special project has begun in the Khmelnytskyi region, the task of which is to popularize palliative care, explain to the general public what this concept means and how each of us can take part in such a necessary process. The project is implemented by the Khmelnytskyi Charitable Foundation "Hesed Besht" with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.
In total, the project will hold four round tables in the regions of Khmelnytskyi region and a large final event in the regional center, which will be timed to Palliative Medicine Day. The project began its journey through the region from the city of Slavuta. On September 26, representatives of the public, healthcare, and social services gathered here to talk about the current state of palliative care in our society.
The project team, headed by the Public Relations Manager of the Hesed Besht Charity Foundation, Lyudmila Shvartsman, clearly defined responsibilities during the round table in order to make its work as effective as possible. After the opening of the event by Lyudmila Mendelivna, clarification of key issues and tasks, and delineation of terminology, the floor was given to the endocrinologist of the Slavutych Central Hospital, Yulia Viktorivna Sokolova. Almost everyone in Slavutych knows her for her sensitivity, professionalism, and active public position. She drew the attention of those present to the danger of one of the most common diseases - diabetes. From the point of view of palliative care, patients with this disease often suffer from a lack of attention to them from their loved ones or society. Limb amputations in seriously ill diabetics occur because they themselves can no longer feel the onset of the problem, and others simply do not pay attention to it. Ordinary people present at the round table showed keen interest in the doctor's story, and representatives of the local Territorial Assistance Center confirmed the importance of these words in their daily work.
Lyudmila Novitska and Raisa Gelman from the project team outlined certain areas of palliative care. Lyudmila Borisovna drew attention to the components of care: psychological, legal, psychological and spiritual. Each of them can be as necessary for seriously ill people as, in fact, medical. Raisa Izrailovna shared with those present the results of her own research on this topic in a historical and cultural perspective. Even before palliative care was separated into an entire field, in the history of different peoples and in religious teachings, entire branches stood out, which asserted the importance of helping and supporting the seriously ill.
Project volunteer Leonid Zapadenko prepared a video series for the roundtable participants: a cut from the movie "Oscar and the Lady in Pink", which clearly illustrated the importance of palliative care for the sick main character of the film. And Vyacheslav Nagnybida told about a real example of the same help to Victoria Polisyuk - a resident of Khmelnytskyi, who has been bedridden and deprived of physical activity for 16 years. However, thanks to the support, the girl managed to publish a book, create a number of paintings and now organizes (with the help of friends and relatives) charity exhibitions, the funds from which she donates to charity.
The participants of the round table received information brochures provided by the “Renaissance” Foundation on the topic of palliative care, as well as special booklets developed by the project team for a clear understanding of the importance of palliative care. The first step has already been taken, there is still a lot of work ahead for society. However, everyone is convinced that the “Protect Life” project will change the situation in the Khmelnytskyi region for the better, since the high humanitarian mission of our team cannot leave other people indifferent.
