Ukraine
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, we immediately reached out to our friends at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Palliative Care Centre and associated Nadvirna First Children’s Hospice. We knew them from when they had attended the European Palliative Care Academy training course at our Romanian country partner Hospice Casa Sperantei in Brasov. The adult hospice has 34 beds and a home-care service. The children’s hospice has 12 beds. Most hospices in Ukraine receive funding from the State for the salaries of medical staff and a contribution towards utilities and drugs.
However, due to the war, their funding has been reduced and does not cover many of the essential items that are needed to run the hospices. The hospices are supported by the St Panteleymon Charity Fund and Hospices of Hope has an official partnership with this charity. As funds become available, we also plan to support a hospice in Kyiv.
Our support for Ukraine to date:
Soon after the war started, 3 urgent priorities were identified; an ambulance to be able to transport patients from the war-torn areas in the east to the relative safety of the west; a generator to keep the power on and some medicines that had run out. We were able to provide these thanks to the generosity of our donors.
In addition to this direct support, we were also able to help Ukrainian refugees through our country partners in Romania and Moldova by:
- supporting the provision of a home and all the necessary needs for Ukrainian refugees at the Copaceni children’s centre near Bucharest (some are still staying there and would like to remain until the war is over)
- supporting patients with palliative care needs through admission to Hospice Casa Sperantei in Bucharest
- providing medical care to Ukrainian refugees arriving in Moldova at the border and through the day care centres in Orhei and Chisinau.
Our current support:
In August 2O22, we signed a formal partnership with the St Panteleymon Charity Fund and, thanks to a donation from a donor company, we have recently been able to appoint our first Ukraine country manager, Roman Sluhotskyi. Until Roman started work for us he had voluntarily assisted the Ivano-Frankivsk hospice with management advice and fundraising, alongside his regular job. Now he can devote all of his time to help sustain and develop the work of the hospice and help grow the palliative care movement in Ukraine.
Find out more
Latest news and stories
Find out more about each of our partners:
St Panteleymon Charity Fund
Ivano-Frankivsk Palliative Care Centre
Our Hope for Ukraine leaflet
Hope for Ukraine
Palliative care in Ukraine is still relatively new and underdeveloped, with limited resources and a lack of trained professionals. The war has only exacerbated these challenges, with the destruction of healthcare facilities and infrastructure, as well as the displacement of healthcare workers. It has also resulted in significant psychological trauma for many individuals, including those in need of palliative care. This can make it difficult for them to cope with their illness and the associated symptoms, such as pain and anxiety.
It is estimated that over 600,000 people in Ukraine require palliative care, facing the challenge of battling both the war and their debilitating illness to survive.