TIM has joined the unique on the national scale program for small patients struggling with cancer launched by the foundation „Na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową” (Let’s Help Children with Cancer). The program partners fund kits for safe central lines care managed at home by parents. Thanks to this, even a hundred children, patients of the Wrocław oncology clinic “Przylądek Nadziei”, can spend less time in hospital.

The Broviac catheter is a tube hidden under the skin. It is connected to the central vein that enters the heart. This allows children to be administered medication and draw blood without having to use needlestick or cannula. It is a convenient solution that helps in therapy and reduces stress in children. However, they must be absolutely sterile and regularly flushed, which is why they are used in hospitals, under the control of medical staff.

Expense that is difficult to bear

– We decided to make it possible for the parents of our patients to take care of catheters on their own at home. Thanks to this children will no longer have to stay in the hospital for the sake of the catheter itself or pay special visits to the clinic from distant parts of Poland only to do the cleaning – explains Przemek Pohrybieniuk, the President of the Foundation „Na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową”. – This means less stress for the children and the parents and more time spent at home among their loved ones. The effect translates into greater effectiveness of the therapy.

However, preparations and accessories for home care of catheters are not reimbursed. The cost of a three-month kit for one child is 550 zlotys. For many parents this is a serious, extra expense that they could hardly bear.

Now they will be able to get packages and receive professional training completely free of charge. TIM SA – like two other partners of the Broviac Program – funded kits for home catheter care for the first one hundred small patients of the children’s oncology clinic Przylądek Nadziei which is part of the Teaching Hospital in Wrocław.

Up to 100 children by the end of the year

– The Broviac program ideally fits into the strategic directions of TIM’s responsible business. One of them is supporting local communities in matters that are important for them, especially concerning children and youth – says Krzysztof Folta, the President of the Management Board of TIM SA. – We are very happy about the fact that our help will bring measurable effect so quickly. Small patients will return home sooner and the clinic staff will be able to focus on looking after those who really need to stay within the hospital walls – he adds.

– We are extremely grateful to our Friends from TIM for the help in launching the program. This is invaluable support for parents and children, and above all the proof that business can go hand in hand with the highest values ​​and good heart – emphasizes Przemek Pohrybieniuk. – We appreciate it all the more so as our Foundation has been helping children suffering from cancer for 28 years and we have never refused help to a child in need. However, without the support of our Friends, this would not be possible.

By the end of the year, up to a hundred children from the oncology clinic Przylądek Nadziei will benefit from the Broviac Program. It is already known that the program will continue next year. In order to help in its implementation, companies, institutions and individuals can fund catheter care kits to children. This is possible thanks to the website prepared by the Foundation: www.naratunek.org/broviac.

The Foundation „Na Ratunek Dzieciom z Chorobą Nowotworową” hopes that this project, pioneering on the national scale, will be the first step to the implementation of similar solutions in other facilities in Poland.

In the photo above, from the left: Mirosław Szozda – Vice President of the Foundation, Krzysztof Folta – the President of TIM SA