Hospice Sunflower Week

The annual fund-raising Malta Hospice Movement Sunflower Week is to be held between Monday and May 18.

The movement was founded in 1989 and introduced palliative care services for people suffering from cancer and motor neurone disease and for their families.

Hospice philosophy and care focuses on what is known as total care, that is the control and management of pain and symptoms of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspect of care.

A multidisciplinary team, supplemented by the input of volunteers, contributes to planning, problem-solving and compassionate patient care and support system to help the families cope during the patient's illness and in their bereavement.

Hospice services include the loan of specialised equipment to be used at home, hospital support, home care respite, bereavement support and education and training in palliative care. All these services are provided free of charge.

During its sunflower campaign, the movement appeals to the public to show their solidarity with patients and their families by making a donation:

Volunteers will be distributing sunflowers at City Gate. Alternatively, the public can help by answering the sunflower appeal sent to their homes; by sending a blank SMS from go mobile or Vodafone on 618028 for a donation of Lm2; or by phoning on tel. 50049113 for a donation of Lm3, 50049115 for a donation of Lm5, or 50049110 for a donation of Lm10.