The exhibition, displayed in the ground floor atrium of Hospital Garcia de Orta (HGO), portrays the testimony of proximity, time, and connection, highlighting the physical and emotional wear and tear of informal caregivers, which is often undervalued.
“The project seeks to value the role of informal caregivers, raise community awareness of their needs, and reinforce the importance of self-care, prevention of physical and emotional overload, and access to support and understanding,” explains Cátia Valente. The photographs showcase the intimacy and the human side of the relationship between caregiver and care recipient, as well as the physical traces of the repetitive nature of caregiving.
As part of the Informal Caregiver Day, marked on November 5th, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ULSAS, Pedro Correia Azevedo, visited the exhibition and emphasized the importance of the informal caregiver's role, stating that “caring involves technique” and that the healthcare system alone cannot provide all the necessary support, making it essential to value those who are available to care.
The exhibition originated from Cátia Valente's participation in the 7th edition of the Masterclass Narrativa, an initiative by Mário Cruz, a photographer awarded by World Press Photo.
ULSAS congratulates Cátia Valente for her work, which gives voice to the integration and humanization of healthcare, recognizing that those who care also need to be cared for.
