Palliative care is unique in its ability to offer a holistic approach to patient care. The capacity to address the patient’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs and adapt to various circumstances makes palliative care special. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, palliative care providers continue to deliver the best possible care within their communities. These heroes put their...
GPIC’s Disaster Response Fund in Action – Binga District, Zimbabwe
The people of Nsungwale Village in Binga District, Zimbabwe woke up on the morning of February 11th, 2020 to massive destruction and flooded homes due to the incessant rainfall that had been taking place the previous days.
The Spread of COVID-19 in Africa
The pandemic in Africa is somewhat enigmatic. High numbers of deaths were expected there due to fragile health systems, lack of access to preventive measures, barriers to testing, and potentially vulnerable populations. On May 22, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that Africa reached 100,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. It took the continent 14 weeks to reach this milestone since the first recorded case...
APCA’s Strategy to Combat COVID-19
In March 2020, as the first cases of COVID-19 were reported on the African continent, the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) began implementing a comprehensive communications plan to prevent and manage the spread of the disease. While many of the communications tools were developed to help national palliative care associations disseminate reliable public health information, they didn’t lose sight of...
A Constant in These Uncommon Times
Palliative care isn’t reliant on high-tech interventions. Rather, it’s provided by compassionate health care workers who are trained to provide holistic care to those with life-limiting conditions. As part of our mission, we want to show the human face of global palliative care. By sharing our partners’ experiences we can shed light on the amazing things that people do every...
An Important but Overlooked Source of Income for NGOs
NGOs often rely heavily on charitable donations to survive. Many have made great strides is operational sustainability by integrating small business or income generating projects into their organization. But what happens to palliative care organizations that raise funds to support their work by operating small businesses that have been forced to shut down during this pandemic? The COVID-19 pandemic has...
Helderberg Hospice – Together Everyone Achieves More!
The home care team at Helderberg Hospice, located in Somerset West, South Africa, went to great lengths to ensure their patients would continue to receive quality care during the nationwide lockdown. They shared with us a reflection on how COVID-19 has affected their interaction with patients and families. “Friday, the 26th of March 2020 heralded the commencement of the COVID-19 nationwide...
Palliative Care Association of Uganda
Strong national leadership from the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) has helped raise awareness of the importance of palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a mention of the continued need for palliative care during a recent presidential address. This week, the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, asked district health officers to handle issues concerning palliative care as they...
Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja – Uganda
The dedicated team at Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja were very proactive in preparing for the challenges of this pandemic in order to ensure continued care and support for their patients. In a country where access to health care is limited, palliative care providers are especially concerned for patients who are already immunocompromised. Uganda has extensive experience in responding to...
Sunflower Children’s Hospice, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Healthcare workers in South Africa know there will be a shortage of PPE once COVID-19 really hits their health services. Like many other palliative care providers, Sunflower Children’s Hospice is worried that morphine and other essential medicines will be in short supply for community organizations as it will be needed for hospitals. South Africa locked down on March 27 for...