PCAU – Palliative Care Association of Uganda

Mobile Health (mHealth) Palliative Care Surveillance: Pioneering Data-Driven Decision-Making for Palliative Care in Uganda

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) launched a groundbreaking mobile Health (mHealth) Palliative Care Surveillance program in 2015, initially spanning four health facilities. Utilizing Android smartphones and the Open Data Kit (ODK) application, the initiative aimed to collect aggregated data on palliative care service provision, facilitating informed decision-making, advocacy, research, and policy formulation.

Enhancing Palliative Care Data Collection Nationwide

Apart from our commitment to integrating palliative care into Uganda’s Health Care System, the Ministry of Health introduced specialized data collection tools integrated into the Health Management Information System (HMIS). These tools address the limitations of previous indicators, providing invaluable insights for policy formulation, decision-making, and research in palliative care.

First Quarter 2024 updates from PCAU

Dear PCAU Members and Friends,

Thank you so much for your continued support and connection with PCAU. Please receive our 1st quarter 2024 newsletter. We are most excited about our plans for this year as we celebrate 25 years of PCAU. I encourage you all to renew your membership and commit to supporting PCAU. As we celebrate 25 years, we take stock of how our focused investment has yielded compassion, holistic care, pain-relief, comfort, hope, and justice for individuals, families, and Ugandan communities.

Rotary Clubs Commit to Supporting Palliative Care

From March 1st – 3rd this year, we joined Rotary Clubs in Uganda for their Rotary Northern Mega Fellowship which was held in Arua City. They had a captivating theme: “Creating Hope in Palliation.”

The three days were filled with a spirit of compassion. Over 200 people from over 10 Rotary Clubs gathered and spoke about the main need to relieve pain and suffering among many patients and families faced with life-limiting illnesses.

Volunteering Opportunity

PCAU is seeking volunteer services from a dynamic and results-oriented communications and marketing professional. The officer will focus on strategic advocacy for the availability and access to palliative care, the organizational corporate image, interest generation, events management, information generation, and dissemination. He or she will oversee internal and external communications activities. They will support the management and delivery of the PCAU Communication Strategy. The officer will be directly responsible to the Advocacy and Communications Manager.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraiser

On February 25th, 2024, we joined our partners the Uganda Cancer Society for their annual Cancer Sukuma Dance event in Kampala. We were official partners in the event this year.

This is an annual fitness, cancer awareness, and fundraising event with a specific theme also to commemorate World Cancer Day. This year the theme was: Restore Smiles, A Breast for Her.

My experience as a Palliative Care Data Champion in Uganda

In 2022, the Ministry of Health passed the Health Management Information System (HMIS) Palliative Care registers and HMIS 105c Monthly Palliative Care reporting forms. This effectively enabled palliative care reporting through the District Health Information System (DHIS2). The approval by the Ministry of Health followed several years of advocacy and support by PCAU on the integration of palliative care data in the HMIS. PCAU Continues to effort to ensure that the over 300 health facilities accredited to offer palliative care across the country receive the required tools and training to report on palliative care.

One-On-One with Jaffar the PCAU Driver for 12 years

When you visit PCAU or when PCAU visits you, there is that one most likely face. The PCAU Driver. He has been the main driver for PCAU since 2012. He has visited every district in the country and continues to be a valuable team member. A team of 3 staff recently had an interview with him. He shared his role and feelings about the new Land Cruiser acquired by PCAU last year.

The February 2024 National Palliative Care Update Meeting

Since 1999, we have been hosting quarterly national palliative care meetings in Uganda. The meetings bring together PCAU members, Ministry of Health Officials, Members of Parliament, University Faculty staff, and interested members of the public every three months. The gatherings are important for advocacy, sharing experiences, continuous medical education, and networking.

Disability Inclusion: Leaving No One Behind in Palliative Care in Uganda

In the peri-urban community of Makindye lives Matia (not real name) a middle-aged gentleman with Diabetes Mellitus. Matia usually sits on the veranda of his house shaded from the busking sun in the city these days. Matia had a double amputation from the knees and partial blindness in his eyes due to complications from Diabetes.