Help Support Palliative Care Patients in Ukraine

We read the headlines about increasing Russian attacks on Ukraine civilians and the casualties on the front lines. The imact of this is that many Ukrainians are killed and many more are severly injured. Meanwhile unrelated to the war Ukrainians are living and dying of other serious illnesses. Both these realities contribute to the need for both acute and palliative care throughout the country. In addition to needing essential medicines and supplies health care workers need training. We are now providing continuing education for doctors and nurses through regular case conferences. Ukrainian doctors chose difficult cases and our voluneer expert  physicians help them learn how to proide quality palliative care. Take the case of a young 28 year old man with spinal injuries that resulted in his being unable to walk or get out of bed without assistance. His mother and brother both work so he is alone most of the day and develops large infected bedsores on his right hip and is depressed. The hospital is sending staff to make home visits and want help to manage his wound and to help with his depression. They ask us for recommendations for his care.  Also many cancer patients have problems with pain management and others with breathing problems. Regular palliative care education is not available so this is a lifeline to help our colleagues.