Long Term Care

As soon as we began working with the children of the Chernobyl region it became apparent that a response would have to be made to the significant problem of widespread ill-health among so many of the youngest people in the affected areas. One response was in the form of the Life Saving Operations programme that has now seen hundreds of terminally ill children come to Ireland for life-saving medical treatment. This programme has literally saved the lives of children who otherwise were facing short life spans of miserable ill health.

One other crucial intervention made by the Programme was in the form of its Long Term Care Programme. Under this programme children with chronic illnesses that were unable or unlikely to access the required medical treatment in their own countries were brought to Ireland to receive treatment that gave them real hope for the future.

The children concerned suffer a varying catalogue of illnesses. All of them need ongoing treatment for Chernobyl-related illnesses that require them either to reside in Ireland for long periods of time or to return to Ireland regularly so that their conditions can be monitored and treated on an ongoing basis.

Several hundred children have benefited from the Long-Term Care programme since its establishment in the early 90s. The support of various hospitals and health professionals who take these children under their care has been a vital component in the successful treatment of these children – treatment that they would most likely not be able to access at home.

Many of the children who participate in this programme come to Ireland under CCPI’s Rest & Recuperation programme and reside with Irish host families during their stay. Other children return periodically throughout the year when their health can be closely monitored. Some of the children who initially came for medical treatment have ended up remaining permanently in Ireland following their formal adoption by Irish families.

Also under this Long Term Care Programme, CCPI formed an alliance with a specialised holiday centre in Co Kildare Ireland called Barretstown Camp, which takes children from all over Europe with cancer or serious blood diseases to enjoy a holiday with excellent but unobtrusive medical supervision.

Many of the children who initially came to Ireland for treatment under the Life-Saving operations programme ultimately come under the auspices of the Long-Term Care programme once their initial treatment is successfully treated. They too have their recovery closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

All children coming to Ireland receive a full medical check-up while here.

Click to read the stories of: 

Nikolai Kutayev 
Sasha Nesterenko

Click to view pictures of children under Summer Rest & Recuperation Project.