The Launch of the First Palliative Daycare Centre "Wings of Hope"

On June 7, 2022, the first daycare centre dedicated to palliative care was inaugurated in the Orhei district. The daycare centre will provide free palliative care services: doctor's consultation, medical services, psychological counselling and social assistance, occupational therapies, therapeutic manoeuvres to prevent bedsores and vascular complications, pain therapy, beauty procedures and more.

The daycare centre, "Wings of Hope", is a project developed and implemented by the British charity, Hospices of Hope Moldova; the centre's goal is to provide palliative care services to a more significant number of patients with advanced diseases and expand services for Ukrainian refugees regardless of their illness.

Donation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova

The event was attended by Ala Nemerenco, the Minister of Health in the Republic of Moldova, who welcomed the initiative to create such a centre and presented the donation, which was announced by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, during a charity event organised by Hospices of Hope Moldova: "From the ministry, we donated to the centre two functional beds that can be equipped for a comfortable position of the patient but also a set of medical equipment as well as medicines, heart rate monitors, blood pressure measuring equipment, protective accessories and many other consumables in the amount of half a million lei. We, from the ministry, will modernise this category of patients with the necessary equipment. From what we have seen today, these patients are in good hands, and this practice is an excellent experience that needs to be spread across the country."

Help for the Ukraine

On April 6, 2022, Hospices of Hope Moldova, together with the Embassy of Ukraine in Chisinau, organised a fundraising event dedicated to the Ukrainian people, the daycare centre, and Palliative Care Services at Home today. The Ambassador of Ukraine in Chisinau, E.S. Marko Shevchenko, who was present with his wife, Olesia Shevchenko, said: "It all started with an idea, but today it has become a reality. We are glad the Ukrainian Embassy in Chisinau became part of this daycare centre through the joint event we organised with Hospices of Hope Moldova. We sincerely thank the organisation and the Government of the Republic of Moldova for supporting the Ukrainian people fleeing the war."

Aripile Speranței contracted by National Medical Insurance Company for aprox. 5000 visites per year

An important financier of palliative care services is the National Medical Insurance Company, represented at the event by the director-general of CNAM, Ion Dodon: "In the last 11 years, there was a significant financial increase that the company allocated for palliative care. For the "Wings of Hope" team from Orhei, funds are allocated for contracting approximately 5,000 visits per year. We are glad that the money is used appropriately, and the population receives medical services of such brilliant quality."

Hospices of Hope is a British charity which dedicated over more than 30 years to the efficient and active development of Palliative Care Services in South-East Europe. Present in the Republic of Moldova since 2008, Hospices of Hope Moldova has been actively developing, since 2017, the National Network of Hospices of Hope Palliative Care Services - the first of its kind in the country. In 2022 Hospices of Hope Moldova set out to develop palliative care services, and the first step in this direction was taken today by opening this daycare centre.

The event was attended by Graham Perolls, founder of Hospices of Hope (UK), President of BelHospice (Serbia) and President of Casa Speranței (Romania): "Today I visited a beneficiary and saw what it means to care for this patient. I am glad we can extend palliative care in the Republic of Moldova. I came to the Republic of Moldova in 2008. In the last 14 years, we have invested in developing palliative care services, partnering with the National Health Insurance Company and the Ministry of Health in the Republic of Moldova".

The "Wings of Hope" daycare and palliative care home centre is run by Victoria Tintiuc, director and chief physician of the association: "We do not only work with patients but also with their families, who sometimes need more psychological support. The centre will work from Monday to Friday, and the occupational support groups will be organised twice a week".

The "Wings of Hope" home daycare and palliative care service centre will start operating on June 7, 2022. It will provide free palliative care services for children and adults in life-limiting conditions inside the daycare centre and at home. The day centre is also open to Ukrainian refugees.