PALLIATIVE CARE COMMITMENT

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has signed, on behalf of the Church, a charter calling for all children worldwide to have access to palliative care if they need it.

The Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr was joined by other Scottish politicians and faith leaders at the event at the Scottish Parliament in February, which drew attention to the importance of palliative care; and highlighted the difficulty faced by over 20 million children worldwide affected by serious life-limiting illness who don’t have access to the appropriate healthcare.

The Religions of the World Charter for Children’s Palliative Care is an initiative of the Maruzza Foundation, an international organisation which promotes the importance of palliative care.

Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, Trustee of the Maruzza Foundation, was among the speakers at the event. She said: “I am very proud to be a voice speaking out for children’s’ palliative care today in Edinburgh and I am sure that the Scottish initiative will be another important step in raising awareness of this much neglected problem that affects nearly 21 million seriously ill children and their families worldwide.”

The event was hosted by the Edinburgh based charity EMMS International, which provides healthcare in some of the poorest countries of the world.

James Wells, the charity’s Chief Executive, said: “Children’s palliative care is a critical part of any fair health system, and Scotland is blessed with some of the best care in the world. It’s my prayer that by signing the Charter today, people of all faiths in Scotland will encourage others to respond, partnering with us and others to make children’s palliative care a reality for children with life-limiting illnesses across the world.”

This article appears in the April 2017 Issue of Life and Work

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