On 16 October 2025, the presentation of the new reference book ‘Nutrition in Palliative Care’ took place at the Hotel Stanislaviv in Ivano-Frankivsk. The editors Dr Maria Bullermann-Benend (ecotrophologist), Dr Halyna Lejzjus and Dr Andreas Stähli had issued the invitations.

The presentation was attended by 105 guests, not only from Ivano-Frankivsk, but also from the regions of Ternopil, Chernivtsi and Lviv: doctors, nurses, psychologists, pastoral carers, social workers and volunteers, teachers and students from universities and colleges, senior staff from the university and city administration, representatives of the university library, …

After the welcome and introduction, the first part consisted of a lecture by Andreas Stähli, who presented the numerous topics covered in the new reference book. In the second part, Halyna Lejzjus, who translated the book from German into Ukrainian, explained the particular challenges and tasks involved in such a translation project. At the same time, she gave an overview of the important chapter she wrote on multi-generational eating biographies.

One day before the presentation, on 15 October 2025, the new reference book was presented as part of a course for nurses at the training centre at the regional hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk. Here, too, it was a pleasure to see the great interest shown in key topics in palliative care.

The stay in Ukraine began with a visit to the university library in Ivano-Frankivsk, which was given a copy of each book in the series, which began in 2021, for its library collection. For Andreas Stähli, his new book project, “Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Palliative Care”, offers the opportunity to consult existing Ukrainian specialist literature. He has already been provided with an initial detailed list of research findings.

The trip ended with a conversation with Father Yaroslav Rokhman on the subject of spirituality and spiritual care. He confirmed the importance of such a publication for the various professional groups involved in palliative care in Ukraine.

My special thanks go to Halyna Lejzjus, who, in addition to the demanding tasks of interpreting, organised and coordinated these visits, conversations and presentations.

BOOK SERIES

In 2021, a series of publications on important topics in the field of palliative care began to be released in Ukrainian. To date, the first four volumes have been published and are available for purchase.