Sharing the Care

Every year, millions of people (palliative patients) around the world living with a terminal illness suffer unnecessary pain and distress, either unaware of or unable to access the care they need.

Palliative care is a multi profile treatment aimed at relieving individuals with lethal diseases from pain and providing social and psychological aid together with moral support. Among lethal deseases are: HIV, malignant tumor at terminal stage, cardiovascular and neurologic diseases. The two hospices at the Oncology Center and Female Monastery of the Transfiguration were set up in Georgia to render physical care and moral support.

Thousands of people in Georgia are in need of palliative care, but only limited number can benefit from it in hospices, which have 49 beds total and are short of human resources. Thousands of individuals continue to suffer from anguish of body and mind not being able to continue full-fledged and decent lives.

Every year the World marks October 9^th as a day for Palliative and Hospice Care. Sharing the Care is a slogan for 2010. Georgia is joining the international initiative this year. Open Society Georgia Foundation, the First Lady of Georgia, and Music and Drama State Theater have joined forces to arrange a charity concert on October 9, 18:00, at the Music and Drama State Theater. At the beginning the event will involve exhibition-sale of prominent artists such as Anton Balanchivadze, Zura Gomelauri, Levan Kharanauli, Sandro Antadze, Giorgi Dolidze, Maka Jebirashvili, Giorgi Gagoshidze, Tamuna Bochorishvili, Giorgi Jamburia.

Event schedule:

1. Opening remarks by the First Lady of Georgia and Executive Director of the Open Society Georgia Foundation
2. 18:00-19:00    Exhibition-sale of the works by prominent artists such as Anton Balanchivadze, Zurab Gomelauri, Sandro Antadze, Levan Kharanauli, Tika Chkhikvishvili, Maka Jebirashvili.
3. 19:00-20:00    Concert (Chamber Orchestra Muza, Nato Metonidze, Eka Mamaladze, Fellows of Association for Classical Music Support).
   

Guests invited to the event will have an opportunity to help expand hospices at the Oncology Center and Female Monastery of the Transfiguration through donation.

We call upon participation of businesses and international organizations in the charity event. We, our family members and friends may need similar support tomorrow.

You can donate: TBC BANK, Bank code: 220101830

Account (GEL) 360800037
Account (USD) 55070554

Voices of the world stars:

Bono from Irish rock band, U2

"In life, you try your best to hold on tight to your dignity, in death sometimes others have to hold onto it for you. The premise of hospice care is very close to the bone for me. The hospice was available to look after my father before he died of cancer.

These people are kind of angels. They escort you to the door of your death; they are the midwives for delivery into your next life. The comfort and relief they provide is exponential, it spills over to family, friends, colleagues. It's a blessing that everyone should be able to receive.

In the poorest countries, where so many people are fighting for their lives, the conditions of death don't get much of a look in. But how we care for the sick and dying is surely a litmus test of our humanity. Just as we fight for equality in life, we should fight for equality in death."

Sir Elton John

"Access to the best quality care, when facing terminal illness is a human right, but it is a right that many people, in almost every country, is denied. We need to let governments know that this is unacceptable. Please join me in this initiative and make your voice heard."

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For further information contact:

Ana Toklikishvili
Tel: +995 95 221 999
E-mail: Anuka@osgf.ge
www.osgf.ge