The Ministry of Health, in partnership with PCAU, implemented the GHPSI in 5 hospitals, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of cancer treatment protocols, pain management, and chemotherapy safety.

September was the designated month for Patient Pain Awareness Month, where the different hospitals implemented several activities to underscore the need for timely and effective pain relief, as highlighted below Hospital CMEs aimed to build the capacity of health workers in pain assessment and management for children and Adults. Participants confessed that the training has enhanced their understanding of the analgesic ladder to effectively manage pain, unlike before. “Not all oncology patients need oral liquid morphine, assessment is key, said one of the oncology nurses”.

Pinning up pain awareness checkpoint posters in different departments of the hospitals has supported individual referencing for health workers, students, and other hospital supporting staff to remind themselves of the protocols, taking into account changes of staff and intern students in the hospital. The posters summarize evidence-based pain assessment scales, and stepwise analgesic protocols.