Kyiv city and Kyiv regional organizations of the NGO "Ukrainian League for the Development of Palliative and Hospice Care" are initiating the month of development of palliative and hospice care from October 10

Every year on the second Saturday of October, the world celebrates the World Day of Hospice and Palliative Care. World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is organized by the World Palliative Care Alliance, which includes national and regional organizations that support the development of hospice and palliative care around the world. The goals of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day are to raise public awareness of palliative care issues; increasing understanding of the medical, social, practical and spiritual needs of people with terminal illnesses and their family members; promoting the establishment and development of charitable foundations capable of supporting and developing the hospice and palliative care movement worldwide. This year, the World Day of Hospice and Palliative Care is celebrated on October 14.

The Kyiv city and Kyiv regional organizations of the NGO "Ukrainian League for the Development of Palliative and Hospice Care" are initiating the month of development of palliative and hospice care in the city of Kyiv and the Kyiv region from October 10. The month of palliative and hospice care in the city of Kyiv opens with the performance "Alice's Journey to Switzerland", which is dedicated to an extremely urgent and painful issue - euthanasia of terminally ill patients.

"Alice's Journey to Switzerland" is a play by the modern playwright, novelist, theater artist Lucas Berfuss (born in 1971, Switzerland), one of the most famous German-language authors, whose works have been successfully presented in many countries around the world, and the writer himself is a laureate numerous international literary, cultural and artistic awards. The plot of the play is a few days in the life of a terminally ill heroine named Alice, who, having gone through all the circles of hell: loneliness, despair, misunderstanding, pain and despair, travels to Switzerland for the only salvation - euthanasia. The author touches on such a complex problem as euthanasia.

Is a person free to choose: to live or die? Does a person have the right to consciously make his own choice between a life full of suffering, humiliation, flattering lies, remorse, obsessive guardianship of loved ones and the freedom of instant liberation, the return of almost disappeared dignity, his own "I", as well as the liberation of others from long-term lies "for the good", life support, which is disappearing drop by drop minute by minute...

Does the doctor have the right to perform euthanasia? And what does "accompaniment to death" mean? "Alice's Journey to Switzerland" is an action that makes a person think and rethink his actions. About how you need to appreciate every moment of your life, love each other and rejoice in the uniqueness of earthly existence - see in the play.

The performance will take place on October 10, 2017 at 7 p.m. on the chamber stage of the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater. After the performance, a public discussion and a media briefing are planned.

Tickets can be purchased at the theater box office (044) 279 – 59 – 91 or on the website http://tickets.ft.org.ua/web/message/mes/2/event_id/1221