Since 1976 the Norwegian government has sent rheumatic patients to Montenegro for climatic treatment at Institute Dr Simo Milosevic, JSC Igalo. The programme, run by Oslo University Hospital, has since expanded to include other locations in Southern Europe, and research shows that the treatment is highly successful in increasing mobility, and reducing chronic pain and fatigue. In 2020, all treatment abroad is cancelled, and the patients must stay at home.

“Ubehandlet” explores everyday experiences of patients living with rheumatic illness during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on how lockdown measures affect their treatment. Andersen and Bø will interview a series of patients of Skype, and the recorded interviews will form the basis of a podcast episode, articles, and in its full length, are securely stored in the archive of the Norwegian Folkemuseum website minner.no. We are interested in the way people feel about not being able to travel for treatment, how their bodies are affected and how being at home makes them think about the southern sites where they previously so successfully have received relief from their chronic conditions.

A sound piece was edited and published through ROM forlag, Oslo, and can be heard here. Sound design by Therese Næss Diesen.

Read the article here.

The project is supported by Kulturrådet [The Norwegian Arts Council]