PCAU started operating from the premises of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) and was managed by volunteers for over six years. In 2006, PCAU moved out of Hospice Africa Uganda with a seed fund of three hundred thousand shillings to carry out its activities. It had only one employee, Ms. Rose Kiwanuka. The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) then housed PCAU for four years.
In February 2010, PCAU moved into a rented house in Makindye. This helped to improve its visibility, the Ministry of Health then started to recognize its contribution to palliative care. Later in the same year, PCAU received funding from USAID to the tune of 150 million which continued annually for five consecutive years plus a vehicle (Land cruiser) through Hospice Africa Uganda.
PCAU then gained momentum and attracted other donors like Diana Princess of Wales Trust Fund, Open Society Initiative for East Africa, True Colors Trust Fund, Center for Hospice Care, American Cancer Society.
Founded as the national umbrella organization for palliative care.
Partnership with Center for Hospice Care ; first national audit ; acquisition of Kitende office premises
First biennial national conference; UN presentation; Mbarara land donation; 20th Anniversary
Launch of SHINE Child Program ; integration of data into national HMIS; Narcotic Drugs Bill advocacy
Palliative care is the active holistic care of individuals of all ages with serious health-related suffering due to severe illnesses, especially those near the end of life.
It aims to improve the quality of life of patients, their families, and their caregivers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Palliative Care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients, adults, children and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.
It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual. Read more
However, the WHO’s current definition of palliative care for adults, established in 2002, is restrictive.
It limits palliative care to life-threatening illnesses, overlooking the needs of patients with severe, chronic, and complex conditions the definition for children, dating back to 1998, shares similar shortcomings.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the current definition of palliative care, consult the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care (2019).
Palliative Care services are found in 107 districts of Uganda and 300 accredited facilities within these districts.
