SEOLCEG: The Beginning
The idea for Supporting End of Life Care/Education Guyana (SEOLCEG) started in 2018 when Lilette Denton met the lead nurse from the Beacon Hospice( Guyana) who attended a training program in the UK. After many conversations, it became clear that Palliative/EOLC was not considered part of the nursing curriculum. There was no strategy to address this area of practice across the health service in Guyana.
Early in 2019, Lilette travelled to Guyana to facilitate the Palliative/EOLC training at the Beacon Hospice for six healthcare professionals and also met with patients and families in the community.
This visit provided a good perspective on care in the community for cancer patients in Guyana.
The services provided in Guyana were limited and during that time morphine tablets and injections were not readily available, therefore only those patients who were financially stable were able to purchase their pain relief and became pain-free.
On returning to the UK, SEOLCEG was launched at St. Christopher's Hospice on October 5th, 2019. Lilette organised many fundraising events and from 2020 to 2021 all the funds raised were used to pay for the morphine tablets and injections for those patients who were terminally ill and were unable to purchase their pain relief.
'Palliative care is not about giving up; it is maximising the quality of life'
Dr. Ira Byock
Preparation to meet with patients and families in the community.
Empowering Communities with SEOLCEG
Implement community care projects for elderly and vulnerable individuals with life-limiting illnesses in Guyana.
- Support for Palliative /EOLC patients to die at home if they wish to do so by paying for a carer to undertake the terminal care.
- Support is given to cancer patients needing help with the cost of medication, special blood tests, and travel expenses to and from the hospital for radiotherapy.
- For elderly vulnerable adults living alone, we provide daily meals, cleaning and health checks.
- Elderly vulnerable adults in the community who are financially deprived are supported with food hampers.
Supporting elderly vulnerable adults in the community
Training Programs
Advance health education on Palliative and EOLC for the public and healthcare professionals in Guyana.
- Healthcare professionals in Guyana are offered a two-day Palliative Care training programme via zoom facilitated by the Palliative Care Institute in Deli.
- To raise awareness of Palliative /EOLC in the UK and Guyana plans are being made for a one-day seminar in both countries
Facilitating Quality End of Life Care For All training at the Beacon Hospice (Guyana) in April 2019
Success Stories
July 2022
Referral from the Beacon Hospice: supported Mrs I who needed Radiotherapy treatment. The cost of Radiotherapy in Guyana is $625,000. The Ministry of Health contributed $200,000 and the family needed to pay the balance. SEOLCEG contributed $315,000 which enabled Mrs I to have the treatment. Her prognosis was poor ( approx. six months), however, in April 2023, Lilette met her and she was pain-free and was able to have quality time with her family.
May 2024
Referral from the Beacon Hospice:
Mrs CW was terminally ill with prognosis of weeks. This patient wanted to die at home however, the family was unable to manage care. SEOLCEG paid for a carer to support Mrs W during the night ensuring she had regular turns, hygiene care and much needed company. Mrs W died at home after two weeks of care and support.
'The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.' - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Photo: July 2022