Reshko Tamara

Belarusian Children's Hospice

The Belarusian Children's Hospice (BCH) is a non-profit charity that provides palliative care for children and young adults (from birth to 24 years), who have a life-threatening or life-limiting illness. It was founded 20 years ago and was the first children's hospice in the whole of the former Soviet Union. The hospice is based near Minsk, the capital of Belarus. All the hospice's services, medicines and nursing supplies are provided free of charge. Provision of palliative care at home to children with life-limiting conditions is the core service provided by BCH. Our teams of doctors, nurses and carers provide pain control, dignity and increased self-esteem for the children, and support and counselling for their families. BCH also has a small in-patient unit consisting of 3 bedrooms where children can receive 24 hour care and a parent can stay with them. End of life care is also available here. 15 % of the hospice's young patients suffer from cancer and many others suffer from immune deficiency and life-limiting genetic, metabolic, neurological disorders. Every year we care fo up to 250 children in Belarus. This represents 10% of the total need in the country. In addition to medical care, BCH also runs two social and psychological care programmes: Children's Social Club and The Stork Summer Holiday and Recreation Centre, where children and young adults with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses can make friends, play, enjoy outings to the zoo, botanical gardens, cinema and theatre, have parties for special occasions and be entertained by professional entertainers. All our families have 24 hour telephone access to a hospice doctor or nurse in case of an emergency. BCH does not receive any state funding and relies on grants and voluntary contributions.