World Cancer Day 2024
On World Cancer Day 2024, WHO Europe focused on palliative care, sharing three country based case studies from the Republic of Moldova, Denmark, and Uzbekistan.
Managing cancer pain for a better life: a story from the Republic of Moldova
When Dr Liliana Voloceai prescribed opioids to treat pain – or “narcotics” as they are widely called in the Republic of Moldova – to an older patient with advanced stage cervical cancer, the woman’s family viewed this as a sign that she was close to death. However, as time passed, the patient regained her strength and lived longer than all expectations. And that is not a miracle, says Liliana – that is how quality palliative care should work.
Full story here.
Shining light in the darkness: palliative care in a Danish hospice
Arresødal, located in the northern part of Zealand, takes its name from the nearby lake, Arresø – the Danish word “sø” meaning lake. It is a place where life has existed since 5300 BC. Discoveries made by archaeologists include an urn dating back to 2800 BC. Between the western shores of the lake and the castle, old oak trees have stood the passage of time in a landscape Danes would probably describe as hilly, since most of the country is considered flat. The early days of 2024 have covered the Arresødal Hospice and its playground in snow, reflecting the dim late afternoon light with a glow.
Full story here.
Uzbekistan’s first children’s hospice, 1 year on
Located in the Tashkent region, the children’s hospice Taskin (“Solace” in Uzbek) represents a significant milestone in the development of vital children’s palliative care services in Uzbekistan. Knowledge and understanding of children’s palliative care are limited among health-care professionals and the public, and Dr Rustambek Norbaev, Chief Physician at Taskin, hopes to help change that. He is firmly committed to further developing his own skills as a paediatric palliative care specialist, and to building capacity in the medical community.
Full story here.