Health | Wednesday, 10 September 2008

Vodafone Malta Foundation supports palliative care course

Members from the Multi-Disciplinary Team of the Malta Hospice Movement attended an eight-week distance course at Princess Alice Hospice, Esher in the UK which led to the Certificate in Essential Palliative Care. Their participation was made possible through the financial support by the Vodafone Malta Foundation.
Mrs Gemma Mifsud Bonnici, Chairperson of the Vodafone Malta Foundation, said: “The Foundation’s financial contribution towards the project falls within its mission statement which aims at helping remove the barriers that prevent people from participating fully in society and supports programmes that seek to develop skills and programmes that attempt to increase accessibility and include people with special needs”.
Dr Vincent Zammit, the Chairman for the Malta Hospice Movement thanked Vodafone Malta Foundation which made it possible for the Movement’s nurses to further develop their knowledge, skills and abilities for the benefit of the community and the hospital healthcare professionals.
Palliative care specialises in the relief of the stress, pain and symptoms of serious illnesses. The goal is to improve quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care is appropriate at any point in an illness.
The course is divided into five sections, each covering different aspects of essential palliative care namely ‘Managing patients with pain’, ‘Palliative Care and the Gastrointestinal System,’ ‘Breaking Bad News and Ethical Issues,’ ‘Emergencies in Palliative Care’, and ‘Palliative Care in Non-malignant Disease’ and ‘The Last 48 Hours of Life: Practical Issues and Bereavement.’ This eight week, distance learning, multi-professional course required attendance in the UK at the introductory session and the final assessment day.
The Malta Hospice Movement is a voluntary organisation inspired by Christian values, providing and promoting the highest possible standards of Palliative Care for people with cancer or motor neurone disease and to help and support their families.