Stays to research palliative care in Uruguay and El Salvador

Eduardo Garralda, research technician research ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care at the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) at the University of Navarra, has spent six months in Latin America continuing his research the field of palliative care. The trip began in June at the Hospice La Cima in San Salvador (El Salvador), where he worked for a month before flying to Uruguay. There, he completed his stay at the School Communication at the University of Montevideo.

Garralda explains that the goal this overseas study period two main objectives. On the one hand, "to develop a directory specialized palliative care resources in El Salvador, in the form of a Catalog services, to centralize all information related to palliative care in the country (in partnership the association for the Study and Treatment of Pain and Palliative Care (ASEDP))." On the other hand, "to collaborate on various research initiatives research colleagues with whom we have been working for some time in Uruguay. In addition, the distance allowed project focus on the analysis of a project had put on hold on the origins of palliative medicine in Spain."

The ATLANTES technician considers that the results of both stays have been "extremely satisfactory and have provided a magnificent learning experience." This opportunity has also allowed him to "get to know palliative care from the inside, following the entire workshop from the San Salvador hospice, and to collaborate on research projects research clinical teams in Uruguay." He therefore emphasizes that "this experience gives much more meaning and understanding to our research activity at ATLANTES." In this regard, he notes that " contact with professionals in their environment, their different dynamics depending on the context (at the country and institutional levels), and being able to share concerns and research knowledge have perhaps been as valuable as the achievement of the initial objectives themselves."

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The choice of these two destinations was motivated by the relationships that ATLANTES has been building with various institutions in the field of palliative care in both countries. In El Salvador, they have a Memorandum of Understanding with the El Salvador Palliative Medicine Foundation (PALIAMED) and Hospice La Cima for partnership research projects. In Uruguay, they have ties with professionals from the University of Montevideo, the Uruguayan Society of Palliative Medicine, and, in particular, Maciel Hospital. This center has the largest palliative care service in the country.

Garralda explains that, in addition to valuable professional experiences, including the internship professor participation in scientific articles, it has also been a very enriching period on a human level. For this palliative care professional, it was his second time in the South American country, where he had already traveled two years earlier to carry out a World Health Organization (WHO) project Uruguay, together with the Ministry of Public Health, with the aim of promote assessment development palliative care. "I loved the experience, the country, and, above all, seeing our colleagues' palliative care in action. The people from the ministry, the university, the association , and Maciel Hospital, as well as other teams, were spectacular. I was impressed to be on such a similar professional and cultural wavelength."

As for El Salvador, this trip was our first contact with contact. In addition to the beauty of the landscapes and cultural diversity, we were struck by the friendliness and warmth of the people: "I feel nothing but joy and gratitude for having ended up there. The warmth, hospitality, and humanity of the 'guanacos' (as Salvadorans are called), especially our colleagues at Hospice La Cima, but also at the Ministry, ASEDP, and others, was legendary."