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Humanity level of modern communities is usually described in terms
of what it does for the most unprotected part of its population. Few years
ago Russian people still used to be surprised with "so many crippled
in the streets over there, in the Western world." The most popular
explanations were "unhealthy environment" and "excessive
diet." However, another surprising thing for us was that physically
incapacitated persons in the West — by virtue of benevolent public attitude
and friendly living environment — felt and behaved as regular members of
their communities. On the contrary, in this country, until recently we
have had the slightest notion of the disabled — sometimes one might think
they were extinct.
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Photo by Helda Hammead from "The new: our bodies,
ourselves"
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Today, however, we witness something radically different: railway
stations and underground crossings, subway trains and highway curbs are
filled with wheelchairs... Not because society has grown more humane. And
now we are coming down to the point. Public attitude towards women is judged
not by speeches at 8th of March tables, but rather by economic indicators,
for example, by public health care spending allotted to breast cancer control
programs. What does society do for women having suffered from this terrible
and entirely female disease whose breasts have been amputated to help them
regain the completeness of life? And what would be the apt designation
for the society where a patient dissatisfied with her prosthetic device
quality might receive the following medical advice: "Why on earth
would you want a prosthetic when you’re fifty? Stuff your bra with cotton
— and here you are!"
Speschite Delat’ Dobro" is a charitable
foundation established in 1997, in Moscow Central Area. The foundation
staff counts five persons, including three physicians. Dr. Dremova, M.
D., initiated the foundation after she had undergone mastectomy herself
and faced copious difficulties in rehabilitation period. "Speschite
Delat’ Dobro" Foundation implements a special program, "Nadezhda
Vyzdorovet’ — Polovina Vyzdorovleniya" , providing financial support
to destitute patients with breast cancer and women with radical mastectomy
in their past medical history. The foundation also covers costs of expensive
pharmaceuticals and plastic surgeries. While current clients of the foundation
are primarily residents of Moscow, efforts are made to deploy nationwide
operations. Another function of the foundation is to supply quality prosthetic
devices of foreign manufacturers and sell them at minimum prices. Currently,
in Moscow patients are eligible to free appliances produced by Zdorovye
factory. Unfortunately, level of patients’ satisfaction with this type
of domestic product is rather low. In other regions, prosthetic devices
are not covered by public health plans at all, while over-the-counter prices
are not affordable for most disabled persons.
"Speschite Delat’ Dobro" foundation cooperates with "Preodoleniye"
society that pursues similar goals. For instance, the foundation pays swimming
pool time for 40 breast cancer patients, which amounts to 3 million rubles
monthly.
Another partnership is with Prosthetic Research Institute. The foundation
plans to rebuild Institute’s rehabilitation clinic and has already granted:
an Italian-made lymph press (apparatus stimulating lymph circulation in
injured limbs); special stands for physical therapy exercises; and video
equipment for patient education.
The foundation covers utilities costs for most patients admitted to
the clinic for two-week rehabilitation course. Though 30,000 rubles a day
may seem a funny price, many senior women cannot afford it.
Whenever possible, the foundation supplies blood products, antibiotics
and other pharmaceuticals to the Prosthetic Research Institute and the
Oncology Center.
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The foundation helps patients on referral from the Prosthetic Research
Institute or the Oncology Center, though those turning up on their own
are welcome as well. The only source of funding is donations, and to help
every new applicant, funds are raised through personal contacts and communications
with potential donors. Typical situation is that many businessmen and corporate
executives simply do not understand the problem, and of those who do many
has already expended their company’s charity money having donated it to
churches, asylums, other carriers of charity... Though response rate is
miserable, necessary funds has always been raised and all applications
satisfied. Odd donations happen. Bolshevik confectionery, being short of
cash, donated a ton of cookies. For the same reason, some trade house offered
a supply of cheese — and that was accepted with gratitude.
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Along with direct financial support of patients and sponsoring clinics,
the foundation is active in health education. My Medical Record by Nina
Dremova is out of print and will be disseminated through rehabilitation
centers. In this book, author shares her painful experience of breast cancer
and gives useful recommendations about how this terrible disease is won
over.
Future plans of the foundation include opening a club for women with
breast amputation. Club members will receive psychological support, access
to all information relevant to their problem, meet interesting people.
Another plan is to open foundation’s lawyer office. Patients’ ignorance
of their legal rights results in lost opportunities to exercise them.
However, implementation of foundation’s future plans entirely depends
on how "Speschite Delat’ Dobro" manages today. Unless the foundation
is successful in building its image and reputation, it may not plan for
future as well. Good luck!
By Julia Kachalova, based on representation
by Tatyana Maslayeva,
Vice Chair of the Board, "Speschite Delat’
Dobro" Charitable Fund
For contacts: "Speschite Delat’ Dobro" Charitable
Fund, floor 8, Azovskaya 6, Moscow, Russia 113149.
Voice: (095) 760 3926
Donations welcome! Banking information: "Speschite Delat’
Dobro" Charitable Fund, INN 7701154611, acc. 500701105, Oktyabrskoye
otd., ToriBank, Moscow, 715161800, BIC 044583715.
