World Day of the Sick is a Catholic awareness day celebrated on February 11^th. The KUAS Faculty of Medicine students and lecturers gathered at the long-term and short-term care homes, Globasta and LSMU Nursing Clinic, to commemorate this day uplift the spirits of the elderly and the disabled.

The event aims to draw society’s attention to that the sick need treatment as well as empathy. “It sometimes seems that our unhappiness is correlated with things we do not have; however, for an elderly woman or man a short conversation their life’s journey brings a great amount of joy. These campaigns aid in developing social partnership, attitudes towards a significant nursing profession, and develop students’ general competencies, such as volunteering, compassion, and understanding. We hope to delight the sick next year as well on this international occasion as it is better to give than to receive,” says Vilma Rastenienė, Head of the Nursing Department of the Faculty of Medicine.

Continuing the tradition for many years, the students of the KUAS Faculty of Medicine brought fruit platters, greeting cards and skincare products, such as disinfectants, cleansing foams, and bedding creams, to elderly people who are no longer able to take care of themselves and longing for their relatives during the period of COVID-19.

“Students of the Faculty of Medicine did a geriatric practice. The idea arose to visit the elderly on the occasion of World Day of the Sick. Due to recent visitor restrictions due to COVID-19 students wanted to cheer the elderly by gifting postcards. Students not only willingly participated, but also became involved in voluntary activities,” says lecturer Loreta Bukartienė.

Judita Kmitienė, a third-year student who visited care home Globasta, shared her thoughts after the visit: “Our goal is to give elderly the attention they lack. It is a pleasure to contribute to this initiative as we, students, benefit from developing communication skills with people of all ages. I am very happy to do good work.”

Other students, together with the lecturer Rūta Lukianskyte, visited the LSMU Nursing Clinic. The Head of the Nursing Clinic Dr Lina Urbietė says that “At the current moment when the visits of patients are restricted, the attention shown by the students and lecturers of the Faculty of Medicine of KUAS is a great comfort to the patients.”