Filenews 21 February 2021 - by Giorgos Christoforou
"If you can't pave the way for patients with flowers, at least make sure you remove the thorns from it."
Words taken from the soul of the director of the nursing services of the Cyprus Cancer Association, Maria Prodromos, which reflect the work of his people who have been at the forefront next to the cancer patient for 50 years. Despite the enormous difficulties and the imprint left behind by the coronavirus pandemic, the people of "Arodafnousa" have revised the nature of their work by finding those ways that allow them to be protected and respected for the safety of the patient not to be absent from duty for a moment.
Recently, "F" was hosted in the premises of the new "Arodafnousa" after its complete excavation, noting that it has now been transformed and developed into a unique Centre with services of very high standard for our country. With the assistance and through the many years of service of Mrs. Maria Prodromos in the Center, we have guided the wonderful flowering gardens and facilities, while at the same time we have been thoroughly informed about the services, the approach to patients and their families, but also about everything that has changed in the last year due to the pandemic of the crown.
Beginning in our tour we made from the dreamy garden of the house. It was created after a study by experts, so that each plant is in the right position depending on the orbit of the sun for its proper growth and at the same time offer euphoria to patients and visitors.
In the middle a fountain with water flowing throughout the day among wonderful aromas. All rooms of the Centre that are now single, to ensure the privacy of patients and their families, are embraced by this wonderful garden, which offers peace and tranquility. In the days of the pandemic we are going through, it facilitated the access of the patients concerned to visit without their crossing from the rest of the interiors.
With all the protective measures observed for the pandemic, we toured the rooms of ward B which until further notice remains closed, but is fully prepared to accept patients as soon as the economic and pandemic conditions allow. However, we have been given the opportunity to take a closer look at the logistical infrastructure used to care for patients. Throughout this journey, we met members of the staff of "Arodafnousa", who under the mask did not lose their smile and their willingness to offer, each from his post, for the relief of the patient, whether he is outside or within the space of the Centre.
Palliative care
"Arodafnousa", as Mrs Prodromos explains in "F", is a place that offers comprehensive palliative care services from a group of health professionals. The term "relief care", as he told us, refers to the holistic personalized provision of services by doctors, nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, aromatherapists.
Palliative care acts in addition to the treatment of the patient. It relieves physical, mental and mental pain and improves the quality of life of patients. The benefits of palliative care are not limited to the care of patients with end-stage disease, as its timely inclusion in the care plan has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce the need for aggravating, aggressive treatments.
Always with the patient in mind and his own peculiarities. "Let us not forget, the path that the patient is going through throughout this process of his disease is being followed by his family. For us, they're interconnected. We try to offer both the patient and his family our help, so that he has personalized care according to his needs, his particularities and always according to his own desires. We respect every patient, every family, depending on customs," he said.
In the past, around the services of "Arodafnousa" there was the stigma that it is the place where the cancer patient was transported to the last stage of his illness to receive palliative care until he reached. However, as Mrs Prodromos points out, the role of palliative care is not that. There are too many patients who have been hospitalized in the Centre for some time in order to "rest" both the patient and his family and today continue their lives seamlessly.
The Cyprus Cancer Association, last year in the midst of the pandemic, adapted to the new data and did not stop offering its services free of charge to thousands of cancer patients who needed them. At the same time, he supported their families and loved ones because cancer is a disease that affects not only the patient, but also his entire surroundings.
In 2020, the Cyprus Cancer Association offered more than 60,000 services free of charge to thousands of cancer patients and their relatives. Not only in the Relief Care Centre "Arodafnousa", but also in the "Evagorio" Relief Care Center that operates in Limassol, but also in the homes of patients in all the towns and villages of Cyprus.
Relief care 24 hours a day
The Cancer Association of Cyprus, over the years, provides free palliative care services without any discrimination, regardless of the socio-economic situation of the patient, his origin or religion, to our fellow human beings touched by cancer. These services include inpatient care of patients and the provision of services to outpatients at the "Arodafnousa" Relief Centre in Nicosia, day care services at the "Evagorio" Relief Care Centre in Limassol, home care of patients in Cyprus and on a 24-hour basis in the provinces of Nicosia and Limassol, psychological, social and mental support for patients and members of their families, social participation programs for patients, physiotherapy services and lymphoidation management , aromatherapy, as well as daily transportation of patients from their cities to oncology centres in Nicosia and Limassol.
THE GREAT FREE
The new building of the Cyprus Cancer Association was built with an exclusive donation of €5 million. of the Cyprus and Elena Ceda family and was delivered in 2020. It houses all the services of the Association and the Relief Care Center "Arodafnousa". The Ceda family took great care of even the last detail in order to upgrade the holistic personalized service provision. Through the pandemic, "Arodafnousa" continues to maintain its human approach next to the cancer patient in need.
They give their best every day
"Arodafnousa" was seriously affected, both financially and humanely, especially in terms of reaching out to patients, their families and the group of volunteers, friends and supporters of the Association, who have necessarily been kept "away". All manifestations of the Cancer Association, which over time have financially supported its offer to the patient, have been suspended and the financial resources are now limited.
On a daily level, as Mrs Maria Prodromos told us, the work done inside and outside the Centre has been significantly affected by the protocols to be followed for the non-spread of the pandemic. As a matter of necessity, the interdisciplinary team of the Association has reviewed many of the pieces of palliative care that are not in line with the protocol procedures and the required distances. For people who care for patients every day and have contact with their loved ones it is important even to shake hands, touch and approach the patient.
Although the smiles of the staff have been hidden under the masks that are now imposed at every step, at every moment they take care even with the tone of their voice, the conversation with the patient and by any other means they may have not to leave for a moment next to the patient. In the age of the pandemic the nurses are next to each patient 24 hours a day, his company, his own people when the familiar cannot be close because of the pandemic. The team doctors are there to solve problems with the disease. Social workers and psychologists daily give themselves to bring families together with patients and support them either by live, over the phone or even by video calls. So are the other members of the team.
In all areas of the Centre there are antiseptic solutions but also the relevant markings for the observance of distances and everything is done with all protection for the good of patients, who are most of them immunosuppressed.
When asked why visits by families were not completely banned as is the case in other hospitals, Mrs Prodromos explained to us that, due to the nature of the illness and unforeseen developments, it was impossible to completely cut off access to those concerned. However, specific conditions have been laid down.
The spread of the coronavirus, however, did not leave staff members unaffected. A small number of them were infected with the virus and diseased, but they were immediately managed and temporarily removed from their work, in accordance with the protocols of the Ministry of Health, without the spread to patients. A plan that was a success. There have been losses, as is the case in late-stage patients, Mrs Prodromos told us, but not a single patient has been injured and lost their lives due to COVID-19.
Mrs. Maria Prodromos has been serving in the Association for the last 20 years. It was found next to hundreds of patients who passed through "Arodafnousa". He has often been in contact with human nature in an attempt to keep the role of nurse. He lived, along with the centre's medical team, incredible moments, next to patients and families. Especially in cases involving young people or families very connected to each other.
As he says, the first thing a nurse should have to be able to work in a difficult environment such as "Arodafnousa" is empathy. To be able to understand the patient how he feels at the moment and his family, without becoming a personal experience. To have a high sense of love and offer to the fellow man but at the same time to have those mental strengths that help him to withstand the nature of cancer. In order to be able to offer, he must first receive special training for the basic principles of palliative care and also know the philosophy of the Cancer Association of Cyprus.
At the same time, however, the nurse is not a robot that will enter the patient's room to do the nursing operation and leave. He will ask the patient what he feels, what troubles him, what he or another member of the team could offer him or another member of the team beyond what is expected. It's not a few times, Mrs. Maria Prodromos confesses, that they walk into a patient's room for an injection and end up grabbing a chair and sitting next to the patient, listening to him. Especially on nights when the patient is alone, without his relatives and more emotionally vulnerable. The nurse will sit next to him and listen to him. They don't need answers. All she needs to do is listen to him...
STRENGTH MEASURES
As we saw when we entered the site, the data has changed in terms of access to the Centre. Patients are admitted after a PCR test, while their relatives arrive after arranging an appointment, through the social services of the Association, after conducting a rapid test for the coronavirus for a few minutes a day. The access available to the rooms to the garden greatly facilitated the presence of the patients concerned since the distances can be respected, but at the same time patients do not lack the presence of their own. In the pre-crown age, as Mrs Prodromos explained to us, patients were scheduled for admission to "Arodafnousa, with a simple referral from their attending physician.
