The Stuart Willner Memorial Fund is a registered charity dedicated to the relief of financial hardship and sickness, primarily in the Ukraine, by providing goods or services which many people cannot otherwise access through lack of means. Since Ukraine became independent there is no effective Health Service as, although government health clinics prescribe, patients must pay the full cost of their medication. This leaves people with life threatening conditions unable to afford essential drugs. Social Services have virtually collapsed and often there is no provision of food or care to people who are housebound due to illness or disability. Many live in high rise buildings with no lift and are unable to manage the stairs. Some have been confined to one room for years. In Lviv, there is a Health Centre that is partly supported by B’nai B’rith Lodges in London, Paris and Munich, but there is still a serious shortage of funding for medication. On weekdays, lunches are provided centrally for people in need who are mobile, but this does not help those who are housebound. Therefore, a system of ‘patronage’ has been established, so that people who are unable to shop or cook for themselves are visited on alternate days by someone who prepares a hot meal for that day and leaves sufficient food to last until the next visit. The carer also alerts the Health Centre if anyone needs medical attention. The patient is first assessed by a quite remarkable eighty year old retired woman doctor, who gives her services free. The Memorial Fund gives financial help to the Health Centre towards the purchase of essential equipment and medication. It also provides some funding for the patronage scheme which, for some people, including a number of holocaust survivors, is their only contact with the outside world other than radio or television. The Kindergarten in Lviv is crucially important. It provides care for children for the full working day, so that both parents can contribute to the family income, a virtual necessity to avoid poverty. It also ensures that the children receive a nutritious midday mail. Recently, the building was urgently in need of structural repair and the Fund was able to pay for this work, which has now been completed. Donations are invited at: STUART WILLNER MEMORIAL FUND LLOYDS TSB BRANCH: CHEAPSIDE (309183) SORT CODE: 30-91-83 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 00939656 BIC: LOYDGB21236 IBAN: GB58 LOYD 3091 8300 9396 56 |