Volunteer Nurse, Helen Clune, Quin, Co.Clare, Ireland

I recently spent two weeks volunteering with Hospice Jinja. Presently I work as a senior staff nurse in the Recovery Room at Ennis General Hospital.My previous experience was in medical nursing with some experience in palliative care. While in Jinja I played an active role in the daily work of the Hospice. Unlike Ireland, Hospice Jinja is a drop in Hospice where patients are treated and returned home again that day.

Much of the Hospice team’s work is carried out in outreach clinics, in the local hospital and home visitations. This involves travelling long distances each day.

The aim of the hospice is to improve the quality of life of patients and their families who face life threatening illnesses such as HIV/AIDS and cancer. The emphasis is  holistic approach to care by providing pain relief ( very effectively with liquid morphine), social and spiritual support, counselling and berevament after care.

During my stay I spent most of my time going to the outreach clinics and on home visitations. Outreach clinics are very basic with no medical facilities ,  running water or electricity. The team must carry all medications and hygiene washes.

It was a wonderful experience for me to be welcomed into the patients brick/mud huts. These houses are about the size of an average Irish kitchen.The families were always so welcoming to the hospice team and also so grateful for the help and medicines received. I felt so proud and humble to be part of this great hospice team. Though small in numbers great is the work carried out over a large area.

All the patients touched my heart but a few in particular made me cry

A 28 year old mother of three children, 6 months pregnant with a large fungating axillary tumour.

The 12 year old girl with HIV, mother dead, totally looking after her own needs.

A beautiful 6 year old boy with a huge lymphoma on his face and the tumour growing inwards between his teeth.

The 35 year old mother with ovarian cancer and a distended fungating abdomen , who one month previously had delivered a beautiful baby girl.

The common denominator in all the above cases is the word “YOUNG”.

I really enjoyed working with the hospice team of Shem, Christine, Marcellina, Ester, James , Irene, Newton, Drs Frank and Patricia. I would say you are “The Rays of Hope” in the lives of so many patients I have had the privilege  of meeting over my two weeks stay. I wish you well in your work.

I would say to anyone thinking of volunteering “Go for It”. If I can do it so can you.