By Kartika Kurniasari | Chief Executive Officer
Rachel House was founded with a simple, albeit seemingly impossible dream: an Indonesia where no child would ever have to live or die in pain. Thanks to the generous support of our partners and donors, combined with the boundless passion and commitment of our staff and volunteers, thousands of seriously ill children and family members have benefited from palliative care, allowing these children to live with joy and free from pain.
Palliative care for all
In 2017, disseminating palliative care knowledge continued to be a key focus for Rachel House; from medical professionals to community members, each playing an important role in the tapestry of the palliative care ecosystem in Indonesia, to help ensure optimal quality of life for every child living with life-limiting illnesses.
Clinic-in-a-Box, our accredited palliative care training program had over 700 medical professionals attending the courses this year, equipping them with skills that will help add life to their seriously ill patients.
In the community, hundreds of volunteers trained under our Community Network in Palliative Care (CNPC) program. Our volunteers continued to work closely with primary health clinics to bring care and support to members of their community living with chronic and terminal illnesses. We believe that the sheer dedication and commitment of these trained CNPC volunteers are paving the way towards a sustained community-based palliative care in their neighborhoods, and one day soon, in Indonesia.
In August this year, we concluded the second phase of our partnership with SIF (Singapore International Foundation) to enhance palliative care knowledge in Indonesia. In the largest palliative care training of its kind in Indonesia delivered in collaboration with YKI (Indonesia Cancer Foundation), over 80 medical professionals from 12 public hospitals in Jakarta were able to take knowledge back to their hospitals and raise their voice towards a pain-free Indonesia.
In the New Year, Clinic-in-a-Box and CNPC Programs will continue to forge ahead to bring palliative care knowledge to many others to help nurture and shape an Indonesia-wide palliative care ecosystem.
Giving Voice to Palliative Care
In October, thousands joined us to shine the spotlight on palliative care on International Children’s Palliative Care Day. Rachel House’s giant Living Wall exhibition - hosted generously by CITOS Mall and sponsored by faithful donors - celebrated 1600 dreams over the 3-day weekend. Thousands joined in online to give voice to palliative care, including online influencers Julia Estelle, Shanty Paredes and Joko Anwar, generating over 3 million social media impressions for #IfIHadOneMoreDay.
Leadership & Palliative Care
Finally, in recognition of her contribution to making palliative care available to all in Indonesia, and particularly for children, our founder - Lynna Chandra - received the distinguished Presidential Pancasila “Achievement Icon” award in August.
While we celebrate the award, we acknowledge how much more still needs to be done. For every child and their family who are assured of care in the most harrowing times of their lives, we know there are hundreds more who are suffering and with little access to pain management.
We would like to invite you to join us in this vital work to help bring palliative care to all so that no child need to ever live or die in pain.
With gratitude, joy and hope,
Kartika Kurniasari
CEO
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