Newsroom
Africa’s palliative care pioneers rewarded
APCA congratulates Africa’s inspirational winners at the 2009 International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards
Africa stood proud at the 2009 International Journal of Palliative Nursing Awards, held in collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support at London’s Landmark Hotel on March 20th to celebrate the outstanding work carried out by palliative nurses worldwide.(03/04/09) Read more....
Tilting the balance: Zambia update
Pain relief isn’t just about getting opioid drugs into a country, says Dr. Henry Ddungu, APCA’s Advocacy Manager, it’s about making sure they reach the people who need them. He reports back after his recent advocacy visit to Zambia as the country prepares to roll out oral morphine.(03/04/09)
The Big Picture
APCA is working on many fronts to raise awareness, develop skills, connect people, open minds and steer resources to palliative care.
From shaping education curricula to carrying out pioneering research, from setting care standards to advocating for health policies that embrace palliative care for all, it’s been a busy and fruitful year. For success stories, challenges and the latest overview of APCA’s approach to driving palliative care across Africa, read our most recent Annual Report.
Hama Dikani (above), from Blantyre, is being cared for by the Palliative Care Association of Malawi. He receives oral morphine and codeine to control the pain of cancer in his foot. “Since receiving the treatment, I have been able to get out in the compound more and my appetite has increased,” he says.(23/02/09)
Dignity in old age
“Palliative Care means people in old age can live free from pain, with dignity and independence... They know someone is caring.” Research respondent.
APCA’s research study Bridging the Gap gives voice to elderly people and their carers in Kenya and Uganda. Compiled in conjunction with Help the Aged, the report paints a moving picture of older people’s life experiences and identifies their palliative care needs. At a time when the palliative care needs of elderly people across Africa have never been more urgent, it recommends how palliative care can be integrated into existing services for the aged and highlights a provisional research agenda to help meet their needs.
For a powerful picture of unnecessary suffering in old age and clear recommendations on how it can be avoided, read the full report (20/02/09)
The ICPCN launches its Charter of Rights
Palliative care is the right of all life-limited and life-threatened children and their families from the time of diagnosis and should continue alongside any curative treatment aimed at the disease, through death and into bereavement. Its main purpose is to relieve suffering, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, and to promote quality of life.
This and other tenets are embodied within the new International Children’s Palliative Care Network’s Charter of Rights, launched to coincide with World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2008, which they wish to see accepted and ratified by governments and health departments globally.
(31/10/08) Read more....First palliative care education conference for health teaching institutions in Africa
Between 10-11 October, the first palliative care conference for deans of medical schools and heads of nursing schools was held in Kampala, Uganda.Jointly hosted by The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and The True Colours Trust, both based in the UK, in collaboration with the African Palliative Care Association.(31/10/08) Read more....
First KEHPCA conference
The Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) is holding its first palliative care conference between 20-21 November 2008, at the Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi.
For more information about the conference, click here. Potential participants can also register for the conference here, view the abstract guidelines here, and look at available accommodation options here.
If you want additional information, email KEHPCA at: kehpcaconference2008@kehpca.org.
World Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2008
Thousands of people around the world will be staging concerts and other events to raise awareness and fundraise for hospices and palliative care services locally, nationally and internationally to mark this global event.(07/10/08) Read more....
Improving palliative care in Africa
In March 2008 the first Global Forum on Human Resources for Health was held in Uganda. Two subsequent documents - the Kampala Declaration and the Global Action Plan for Human Resources for Health - have established a 10 year plan for a coordinated national, regional, and global response to the worldwide health workforce crisis. For a discussion of its relevance to palliative care in Africa, (24/09/08) Read more....
The Two Faces of Opium
Every day thousands of people suffer terrible pain simply because they cannot get proper medical treatment.The World Health Organization estimates that every year over six million cancer and HIV patients go through agony and die slow, lingering deaths.Such suffering and anguish is rare in rich, developed countries.(08/09/08) Read more....
Distributing medical relief where it is needed
Recently the African Palliative Care Association started distributing medical supplies as part of its partnership with Direct Relief International.
DRI is a non-profit organisation with a mission to improve the health of people living in developing countries, as well as those who are victims of natural disasters, war, and civil unrest. (19/08/08) Read more....