World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) is an international day to raise awareness for the need of those living with a life-limiting illness to have access to quality palliative care. It takes place every year on the second Saturday in October. This year’s theme was My Care, My Comfort. To celebrate, many of our partners hosted events, some in person and some virtual, that helped to raise awareness on October 10th – this year’s WHPCD.
Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) hosted a virtual event called the #10TenChallenge in which they encouraged their supporters to post a video of themselves doing a set of ten of any exercise. They asked that each post include their hashtag #10TenChallenge, tag their page and also include the WHPCD hashtag #MyCareMyComfort, among others. GPIC’s own Cyndy Searfoss participated and her video is posted on GPIC’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
KEHPCA had many participants and those videos can be found on their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Helderberg Hospice hosted an Opens Garden Festival and had a great turnout. For the price of admission, their guests received: Entry to all 11 of the beautiful gardens, the opportunity to visit interesting stalls selling plants, books, and jewelry. Guests could also enter the Bouqcake competition and enter a raffle while having some tea and a muffin. More photos can be seen on their Facebook page.
Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) hosted a Facebook Live WHPCD Virtual Discussion and Voices for Hospice on Saturday, October 10th. The event was over 3.5 hours long and featured many expert guest speakers including Ministry of Health officials and the Executive Director of the African Palliative Care Association, Dr. Emmanuel Luyirika. The event was streamed live on national television as well as social media. The event sough to raise awareness and dispel common myths of palliative care.
The entire conference can be viewed here.