Long-awaited Eco Summer Therapy Camp gladdens children again
Summer is a season of vocations and active rest. It is the season of bright emotions and unforgettable impressions, especially, if these holidays have right organization and are aimed at improvement of health and mood. Unfortunately, today not all Ukrainians can provide proper rest for themselves or their children owing to unfavorable economic circumstances, increase in prices for tours to summer camps and health resorts. Socially vulnerable groups are the most restricted in this regard.
This year GREEN CROSS UKRAINE together with partners have implemented Eco Summer Therapy Camp project within the framework of the international SOCMED program. It is aimed at rehabilitation, medical prevention, cultural, physical and spiritual development of children from most ecologically unfavourable regions of Ukraine, in particular Slavutych, Zhytomyr, Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky and Bila Tserkva. Eco Summer Therapy Camp lasted from 7th July till 21st July 2011. The participants were 60 children from low-income large families as well as children from orphanages.
Camp was organized on the bases of Polonyna medical health-improving complex in Lumshory village of Zhakarpatsky region. Picturesque landscapes, fresh air, spring water, clean forests are not only pleasant to the eye and heal soul and body but also have amazing power to treat and awake inspiration. They arouse feeling of ecological awareness and sense of duty to learn and protect nature.
Physician, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, cardiologist, ENT, carefully examined all children. Doctors made diagnostic screening to define pathologies of gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, ear, nose, throat, etc. and children got the complex course of treatment in line with their final diagnoses.
Clinical and laboratory monitoring was held twice during the camp. This procedure let amend and change methods of treatment and estimate the effectiveness of treatment objectively in whole. To make children feel comfortable and healthy the following methods of treatment were used: hydropathical procedures, solar therapy, mineral water drinking, physiotherapeutic procedures, climatotherapeutics, physical training and gymnastics. Besides that, children could strengthen their bodies and souls with the help of interesting cultural entertainments that were held in the Camp every day.
Backpacking, sport competitions and excursion to Uzhgorod were the most exiting and useful for children’s health.
At the end of the Camp doctors examined children again. The results showed that their health improved much. Moreover, they became more ecologically conscious and reconsidered their attitude to nature and environment.
It was really not easy for children to leave the Camp. They liked it so much, even did not want to go home: good relations with the staff, tasty food, lively programs, activities, new acquaintances and many positive emotions.
Happy children’s eyes and their smiles became the best gift for Camp organizers. GREEN CROSS UKRAINE is very much obliged to our sponsors and partners GREEN CROSS SWITZERLAND, coordinators Hermanovych Elena Albertovna from Bila Tserkva and Ivanova Elena Heorgiivna from Slavutych, dentists Haiduchek ElenaVladimerovna, Kravchenko Ludmila Ivanovna, volunteers Inna and Kate from Bila Tserkva and the others who took an active part for help in organization and realization of the project.