2017_04_04_ICS_atlantes
The ATLANTES Program, the only Spanish initiative in an international group that advises the Pontifical Academy for Life on palliative care.
Carlos Centeno and Eduardo Garralda, members of this project of research of the ICS of the University of Navarra, intervened in Rome at the meeting of the launching of the project PAL-LIFE of the Vatican.
PHOTO: Eduardo Garralda
The ATLANTES Program of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) of the University of Navarra is the only Spanish initiative that participates in the project PAL-LIFE, of the Pontifical Academy for Life. It is part of an international group of work that advises this institution to disseminate and promote palliative care worldwide.
At the first meeting of group, held in Rome, an analysis of the development of palliative care in different regions and its global challenges was presented, from which numerous discussions emerged.
Palliative experts from all over the world participated: Eduardo Bruera presented the status of North America; Liliana de Lima, that of South America; Carlos Centeno focused on Western Europe; Sami Al Sirafy, on the Arab countries; Emmanuel Luyirika, on Africa; Daniela Mosoiu, on Eastern Europe; M. Rajopagal, on India; Ling Sun Yong, on Asia; and Katherine Pettus explained the work of international institutions in the defense of this area of medicine. The technical team in charge of organizational aspects included Eduardo Garralda.
In a first stage, the group aims to study the current status of palliative care and the opportunities and obstacles for the introduction and development of this discipline worldwide.
Also, the Pontifical Academy for Life has launched a study on the Church's framework to determine how many Catholic-inspired care centers and attendance work with terminally ill patients. It will cover the professional and cultural aspects of status.
The data collected will help to establish a starting point to launch palliative initiatives inside and outside the Church. The aim is also to promote a culture of understanding of illness and suffering that will help patients to accept death with serenity and health professionals to care for patients with advanced illnesses in a holistic manner.