Renovation and accommodation of the facility is part of the BELhospice project “The first hospice in Serbia day center”, supported by the grant scheme “Development of effective community services in the area of education and social protection at the local level” (EuropeAid / 138126 / IH / ACT / RS ), which is implemented through the cooperation of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia, Ministry for Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and European Union funds.
The participants were addressed by Vera Madžgalj, director of the BELhospice Center, H.E. Sem Fabrizi, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, H.E. Leo D’aes, Ambassador of Belgium, as well as Miloš Janković Assistant Minister for Labor, Employment, Veterans’ Affairs and Social Affairs.
Among the guests were Ivan Kuzminović from the Norwegian Embassy in Serbia, Božidar Dakić, Director of the Republic Institute for Social Welfare, Miloš Ignjatović, President of the Municipality of Zvezdara, Miroslav Marinović, member of the City Council of Zvezdara, Brankica Janković, Commissioner for Equality, representatives of the Honorable and Management Committee of the BELhospice Center including H.E. Denis Keefe, Ambassador of the United Kingdom.
In addition to the existing care services for oncologic patients in advanced stages of illness and home care for family members, this project will provide conditions needed for BELhospice to improve the quality of life of at least 60 patients and 120 family members, and provides daily services for 20 oncologic patients.
A high-quality palliative care provided by the BELhospice team composed of doctors, nurses, care workers, social workers, psychologists, priests and volunteers, will also include eight months of free transport and food for patients.