NewsLine - May 2010 - (Page 29)

FHSSA — Compassion has no borders May 2010 I Increasing our Reach: FHSSA’s Campaign for 100 Partnerships Hospice raised the money for the building, so they wanted to dedicate it while we were there. The Denver Hospice has been partnered with Selian since 2001. We have had three visits to Selian, and have hosted seven Selian staff to visit us in Denver. To share the work of Selian hospice does, included are excerpts from correspondence back home during our most recent visit: “On Thursday, we started out with the Hospice Team for devotions at the new ofﬁ ce, then visited three patients. The ﬁ rst was Tatu, a widow 45 years old with 7 children. All but the youngest are living with other people. The 3-yr-old lives with her. This was a tough one for our group to see, as she lives in a rented room made of dirt and sticks with a tin roof, about 5 feet square. It’s almost pitch dark--no windows, dirt ﬂ oor. … But the hospice team brings some food staples, and checks on them. Her volunteer visits twice a week. She is grateful . . . n 1999, FHSSA was established around the central concept of US hospice organizations partnering with African hospice or palliative care programs to form a partnership based on sharing professional expertise, resources, and international relationship building and collaboration. Now in our 10th year of the partnership program, FHSSA has coordinated the formation of more than 80 partnerships between hospices in 30 US states and 13 countries in Africa. In recognition of 10 years of the FHSSA partnership program, we set a goal to reach 100 FHSSA partnerships in 2010. With the assistance of the African Palliative Care Association and national hospice and palliative care associations across Africa, we hope to identify and foster the establishment of 15 new partnerships. If your program has thought about forming a partnership but hasn’t made the commitment, now is the time to pair with an organization across the ocean and become part of FHSSA’s campaign for 100 partnerships. The Partnership Experience: The Denver Hospice and Selian Hospice Each partnership is unique in their relationship, leveraging resources and expertise from throughout their community. The following report from Lisa Motz-Storey, Chaplain and African Hospice Liaison at The Denver Hospice, highlights some of the successes and experiences that a FHSSA partnership can bring. “In February 2010, a group from The Denver Hospice visited our partner, Selian Lutheran Hospice in Tanzania. We rode along on visits, helped with a day clinic, and were the guests of honor at a huge Grand Opening celebration and fund-raiser to dedicate the new Selian Hospice Ofﬁce. The Denver Hospice and our co-partner, Exempla Lutheran FHSSA partners in Africa On Friday, we went to the ofﬁ ce to prepare for a Day Clinic (they call it Day Care) for patients in a village. The Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program meets at the same time, so the orphans can support one another. They set up stations for patients to meet with staff to review symptoms and receive medications. The kids went outside, and we played group games and sang songs with them. After the afternoon of games for kids and consultations for adults, everyone recieved food and clothing to take home. There’s just so much need. Those who are sick are even worse off than others, because they’ve often sold their animals to pay for medical care, and they have no means of generating income. On the positive side, so many of them enjoyed playing, interacting or having their nails painted. A relaxing day with medical, spiritual, social, and nutritional support.” Continued on next page…

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NewsLine - May 2010

Palliative Sedation in Hospice Care
The Moran Data Project
Your Regulatory Questions Answered
Eight Ways to Improve Access and Care for Veterans
Pet Peace of Mind - With Free Start-Up Funding for Nonprofits
People and Places
Educational Offerings
FHSSA Quarterly Report

NewsLine - May 2010