A palliative care project for HIV patients is being implemented in 4 cities of the Vitebsk region.

February 3, Vitebsk /Alesya Pushnyakova - BELTA/. The Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society (BRCS) will provide palliative care services to HIV patients in Orsha, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Vitebsk.

February 3, Vitebsk /Alesya Pushnyakova - BELTA/. The Vitebsk regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society (BRCS) will provide palliative care services to HIV patients in Orsha, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, and Vitebsk. This was announced by the organization's chairperson, Galina Zhelanova, at the final board meeting, in response to a question from a BELTA correspondent.

Palliative care for residents of four cities in the region who are HIV-positive will be provided by specially trained professional nurses. They will be provided by the regional organization of the BRCS. This initiative was developed in conjunction with the main department for healthcare of the regional executive committee. "To improve the quality of life for HIV patients, we are introducing a service such as palliative care. This is a very complex area of work. Together with the regional center for hygiene, epidemiology, and public health, we have identified the cities where such a service will be most in demand. These are Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk," said Galina Zhelanova.

The head of the regional Red Cross organization added that the project will be funded from the budget of the main department for healthcare of the regional executive committee. "The new healthcare program, which is being developed until 2030, includes sub-points related to palliative care. We are awaiting its approval and will immediately begin providing this new type of service. We have already selected the personnel," emphasized Galina Zhelanova.

The committee for labor, employment, and social protection of the regional executive committee will also be involved in the work. It will send junior medical staff to assist. These specialists will provide social services such as delivering food, essential items, and medications.

In 2022, it is planned to extend the project to all regions of the oblast and cover people with HIV who not only need palliative care but also those who are undergoing treatment.