We are Naturalia Foundation from Bucharest -Romania -and we want to develop a hospice activity here.

In fact, we want to organize hospice near Bucharest in Voluntari. Bucharest in every year , the number of the new cases are increase, in year 2000 this number was 4231 , and all cases ( new and old) was 46.763.

As you well now, In Romania the long period of transition lead to a change for the worse in the living conditions. Up to this point , The Government, hasn't found the necessary resources to initiate, sustain and develop specific services in favor the terminal patients. The same situations for philanthropic activity from the public organization and private person.

The necessity of a hospice is also due to the lack of similar institutions in Bucharest, meaning specialized institutions able to provide medical, social and spiritual assistance for the patients in terminal phase of their illness. There was only one institution of the kind in Romania, which functioned in Brasov for seven years and which for the last two, or three years functions as a hospice with a reduced capacity of beds.The necessity of founding a hospice in Bucharest is enormous. In the Oncology Institute – the biggest institution of the kind in Romania – exists a number of 551 patients assisted by only one psychologist who does not have at his disposal an adequate team of social assistants and volunteers, that is the entire social network needed by a patient in terminal phase, suffering of cancer.

We apply for money at EU Phare fund and we expect the answer on the end of June 2002.

We will receive some help from IM Sweden on the September or next year.

Meanwhile we work with the terminal patients from common hospitals and with those how can't afford do address to a medical assistance.

We want to know if any organization could help us in any way to this kind of project.

Contact:
Dr. Pavel Chirila
email naturalia@xnet.ro