Pilot Project.

Background

The development of palliative care only started thirty years ago in the Western world, where it is still relatively new. It is practically unknown in the Ukraine. The country has been recognized by the Human Rights Watch as having the most precarious situation in this matter, essentially because of the policy in the fight against drug trafficking, which hinders the availability of medication for the patients.

Location

Kiev area / Urban and rural areas of Ukraine, starting with Dneprovskiy rayon, east side of River Dnepr Region and then contributing to the replication of experience gained throughout Ukraine.

PHASE 1 - Care of patients at home

Establishing phase 1 can be done relatively quickly, its impact is immediate and the cost relatively low. The persons concerned are the patients of the local hospital who, having been informed about the limitations of the curative treatment regarding their illness chose with the help of their families a shift towards palliative care.

This is when EPIONA takes over by providing home care, the aim being to relieve physical sufferings and other symptoms and offering a psychological, social and spiritual support to the patients and their families.

  • We will raise awareness about existing mobile services to the patients and their families in need through a network of medical and social facilities, family doctors, local media, organisation’s website etc.
  • The activities will be recorded and evaluated with intermediate analysis and reporting.

This phase should start in 2016. The activities will be coordinated with the Ministry of Health, the City Health Administration, the local Hospital, the social services, national and international NGOs, as well as different confessional bodies.

Results expected

We would like to provide access to palliative care services to 800 - 1’000 patients and their families per year.

EPIONA does not ask for any financial contribution from the patients and their families for the care and the services provided.

PHASE 2 - Establishing a private facility

It is a facility dedicated to the patients’ well-being that can, as far as possible, support their specific needs, a calm and quiet living environment where human values are highlighted.
Such a facility would address the following three issues:

  • Supporting patients in case of “crisis” (health or psychological), until the situation stabilises and the patient can return home.
  • A temporary support for the families in very difficult situation: respite care,
  • The patient’s admission to the care facility would enable the relatives to take some rest physically and psychologically and for the patient to return home in a better condition.
  • Supporting the persons who do not have a home and/or family and who have lost their autonomy.

The implementation of the second phase will take longer and will cost significantly more. It requires a specific funding and for the association to be financially stable.

To plant a seed

If, as a first step, the association establishes a training system for the staff, in future it will encourage a specialised training for medical students and those in nursing schools.
By reinforcing and facilitating the teaching and practice of palliative care, EPIONA wishes to strengthen the links between academia, the ministry of health, the practitioners and the carers at the patients’ bedside.
Such a process would facilitate a “democratisation” of the specialty and its implementation in other regions and in the future in other countries lagging behind in this area.

Finally, EPIONA would like to develop international advocacy on the platform of palliative care to establish a creative synergy. The association wishes to mobilize the strengths of the various actors in this area and unite the organisations involved in this matter. Such an approach should be supported by media coverage to raise the awareness of the general public and the political representatives.