A monumental figure in global health Dr. Anne Merriman (MHSRIP), the visionary humanitarian and undisputed “Mother of Palliative Care in Africa,” died on May 18th, 2025, at the age of 90. Her legacy is defined by the establishment of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) in 1993. This organization was founded on her radical principle: bringing affordable, holistic, and compassionate palliative care to people across Uganda and, eventually, much of Africa.

Dr. Anne Merriman’s contribution to the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) is foundational and multifaceted, extending from its establishment to providing an enduring model for its mission.

• Dr. Merriman stands as a founding member and the Founding Vice-Chair of the Board of PCAU, an organization birthed from her vision in 1999 (with its official registration as an NGO occurring in 2003). Her unwavering leadership was pivotal in forging a powerful national association that passionately unites palliative care providers across Uganda, creating a stronghold for compassionate care.
• PCAU’s remarkable journey is firmly built upon the inspiring, community-centered model that Dr. Merriman so courageously pioneered through Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU), which she established in 1993. HAU’s extraordinary success proves that affordable, holistic, and culturally sensitive palliative care including the life-saving use of oral liquid morphine is not only possible but essential even in resource-challenged environments. PCAU’s mission to fortify healthcare systems and amplify access to palliative care stems from this transformative model, ensuring it flourishes.
• Her tireless advocacy for crucial policy reforms, such as urging the Ugandan government to permit the importation of morphine and, vitally, empowering nurses and clinical officers to prescribe it, has forged a foundational legal and clinical framework that PCAU passionately upholds. This groundbreaking achievement is vital in expanding access to palliative care within a nation grappling with a shortage of doctors.
• PCAU’s noble mission to uplift and empower palliative care professionals in Uganda is magnificently supported by the robust training infrastructure established by Dr. Merriman, primarily through the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA), proudly located at HAU.

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) remains forever grateful for Dr. Anne Merriman’s tireless advocacy and foundational support. As a Founding Member and Vice-Chair of the Board, she did not merely establish the framework for palliative care in Uganda; she continuously supported the national body she helped create. Her commitment was personal: she literally stood by the organization, never missing PCAU’s key events, including their Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Annual Dinners. In recognition of her pivotal role, PCAU honoured Dr. Anne Merriman with the Annual Merit Award in 2017 for her monumental contribution to the founding of the association and the overall development of palliative care in Uganda. Dr. Anne was also awarded posthumously a Medal of Honour from the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, June 9, 2025 in recognition of her lifelong work on palliative care in Uganda and Africa.