The "Ronić po ludzku" and "Serce Dziecka" foundations were awarded in the fourth edition of the "Grant for Health" competition organised by Gedeon Richter Polska and the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education. The award ceremony took place in Warsaw during the 18th Forum of Patients' Organisations.
"Grant for Health" is an initiative of Gedeon Richter Poland aimed at honouring and promoting associations involved in the implementation of projects that improve the quality and comfort of life in the area of women's health. The winners of this year's edition of the competition are the "Ronić po ludzku" foundation, which was honoured for the project "O_CENAZ ZAUFANIA - evaluation of hospital care during miscarriage" and the "Serce Dziecka" foundation, which was recognised for its "CardioMama" programme.
- Caring for women's health is much more than providing valuable therapies. Patients not only expect to improve in this area, but they also need support in coping with their illness and help with everyday life. For years, we have continuously focused on therapeutic support for women. The Grant for Health competition we have initiated aims to support organisations working in this area. In this way, we can be even closer to female patients and take care of their most urgent needs - says Aneta Grzegorzewska, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at Gedeon Richter Polska.
The competition is open to initiatives responding to the most urgent health needs of patients, contributing to, among other things, building awareness of prevention, treatment standards or improving the quality of life in the event of illness. In each edition, two organisations are awarded a grant of PLN 20 000 to implement the winning project. In total, over 150 different initiatives were submitted in the four editions of the competition.
- Such competitions are particularly valuable for small NGOs. With grant funds, they can implement projects that have the potential to make a real difference to patients - says Igor Grzesiak, Vice President of the Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education.
More than 50 projects were submitted in this year's edition. The applications were evaluated by a competition jury composed of experts in the field of medicine: Prof. Dr. hab. n. med. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta, Head of the Department of Women's Health at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Marta Majchrzak - psychologist, social researcher, CEO of the research agency Herstories and an expert at the OFF school foundation, Igor Grzesiak, Vice-President of the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education, and Aneta Grzegorzewska, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at Gedeon Richter Polska.
Nearly 40,000 women a year experience pregnancy loss
According to a 2021 NIK report, approximately 10-15% pregnancies in Poland ended in miscarriage. This means that approximately 40,000 women per year experienced pregnancy loss. Guidelines on one's rights after a miscarriage can be found, among others, in the 2018 Regulation of the Minister of Health on the organisational standard of perinatal care. Despite existing procedures, in as many as 73% units audited by the NIK, patients were not provided with information on their rights[1].
The project "O_Evaluation of Trust - evaluation of hospital care during miscarriage" initiated by the Ronić po ludzku Foundation aims to improve standards of care in hospitals in cases of miscarriage and stillbirth, by monitoring the activities of facilities and disseminating information on where to get help about rights after pregnancy loss.
- This award is a very big step for our foundation, but above all a step forward in the fight for the dignity of women at the time of miscarriage and stillbirth. The situation of miscarriage is extremely difficult for both the woman and the couple. We are keen to ensure that this trauma is not exacerbated by ill-treatment in hospital or a lack of respect for patient rights. We hope that, through our project, the word "dignity" will resound loudly - says Paulina Szydłowska, representative of the 'Ronić po ludzku' foundation.
The number of patients with congenital heart defects is increasing in Poland
The limited number of highly specialised health centres makes it difficult to manage pregnancies in cardiac patients in Poland. Pregnant women with congenital heart defects require an individual approach with a team of specialists, in particular a gynaecologist and a cardiologist, to plan the safe course of the pregnancy and delivery. However, access to information for mothers-to-be is not universal - patients do not know where to go for help, and there is a lack of developed standards and procedures related to the preparation for pregnancy, its course, as well as the post-partum period.
The aim of the 'CardioMama' programme run by the Children's Heart Foundation is to provide comprehensive education to women struggling with congenital heart defects and wishing to give birth.
- Thank you very much for awarding us this grant. The Children's Heart Foundation was founded for children with heart defects. This year, however, we are already turning 20 years old, and many children have grown up under our wings and have now become adults. Among them are also young women with heart defects who wish to have children. This is why the 'CardioMama' programme was created, which is aimed at young patients who wish to become mothers. We want to support them in planning their pregnancies, provide them with the necessary information, advise them on which tests to perform and which specialists to consult. - says Katarzyna Parafianowicz, President of the Heart of a Child Foundation.
[1] https://www.nik.gov.pl/aktualnosci/poronienia-i-martwe-urodzenia-opieka-nad-pacjentkami.html [Accessed 14.02.2024].