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Experiences of healthcare professionals

Read stories and experiences of people who are committed to improving pediatric palliative care in the Netherlands in a special way. Interviews about the profession, special encounters and exciting developments. You can also read books with experiences of others.


Experiences of healthcare professionals
“Loss and death is about more than just the medical aspect”

“Loss and death is about more than just the medical aspect”

In the 'Passion for the profession' section, we ask healthcare professionals what drives them to dedicate themselves to pediatric palliative care. This time Maraliza de Haan, E-learning training coordinator at the Knowledge Center for Pediatric Palliative Care, has the floor.

“My passion for the profession started twenty years ago. I have a background in pediatric palliative care from South Africa where I am from. I was a social worker and worked with traumatized children and families with problems. In South Africa there were many parents who died and also sick children, due to the HIV / AIDS pandemic. I worked in a hospice at the time and that was very intense.”

Which case from the past motivates you to this day to dedicate yourself to pediatric palliative care?

“There was a boy who will always be with me. His parents were dead, as were his aunts, uncles, and grandparents. He couldn't go to school and had experienced so much loss in his life. He had to take care of his brothers and sisters all by himself. At one point we received a donation of tin boxes for the children. They were very ugly boxes, so I bought painting paint and we started painting with the children to make memory boxes (' memory boxes '). The boy painted a butterfly on his box. I was very curious why he had painted a butterfly, instead of a car or an airplane. Then he said, “You know, sometimes I want to be a butterfly, because I want to be free. It now feels like I'm in a prison.” Then it clicked with me. Loss and death is about more than just the medical aspect. It is also about the spiritual, the social and the emotional. It's a holistic approach.

By (painting) the memory boxes , this boy was able to open up to share his concerns, needs and frustrations with us. The memory box not only helped him deal with loss emotionally, but also provided him with the support he needed as a child.

This form of bereavement for children and adults has been continued in collaboration with Memory Work and the University of Durban.”

How did you get into pediatric palliative care?

“As National Coordinator for Pediatric Palliative Care of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA), I have received international training in Pediatric Palliative Care and I have developed a program for sick children and children whose parents have died. In addition, I have also given many international training courses for ICPCN (International Children's Palliative Care Network) in Georgia, Serbia, the Czech Republic and for the Free University of Amsterdam in Ethiopia. That was a real highlight for me. I had learned a lot about (paediatric) palliative care and wanted to pass on my experience to other healthcare professionals. I then gave introductory lessons about pediatric palliative care. It is great to see how healthcare professionals continue to develop within this field.”

What difference do you see between the Netherlands and South Africa in terms of (child) palliative care?

“When I came to the Netherlands in 2012, I discovered that little was known about pediatric palliative care and that there was no national network. There was loose care for children and families, but not a good understanding of pediatric palliative care. South Africa is very far ahead in terms of palliative care. And that is also for good reason. In South Africa, many people die from the consequences of HIV/AIDS, poverty, hunger and social problems and difficult circumstances. As a result, palliative care in South Africa is well developed and there is a large network. The quality of palliative care for both adults and children is very high. I have really seen children's palliative care develop in the Netherlands, which is very nice to see! Currently, many health care professionals are also being trained in this field to provide high quality care to every child and family facing illness, death and loss. Training and education therefore play an important role in the further development of pediatric palliative care.”

What was your next step in pediatric palliative care?

Maraliza's life path is not only dominated by (child) palliative care, it also inspires her to develop further: “When I came to the Netherlands I did not want to work as a social worker. It remains a part of me, but I didn't want to do it as a job anymore. Then I started as a volunteer in a hospice, as a caregiver. I enjoyed this work immensely. That is why I registered a year and a half ago for the MBO Nursing IG level 3 study. Now, in addition to my position at the Knowledge Center, I also work as a carer in a nursing home. All my experiences are reflected in this. The fact that I can now do this alongside my work as a training coordinator gives me great satisfaction. You are never too old to learn something new! ”

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