The Palliative Care Association of Uganda assists financially strapped Cancer patients at Hospital Palliative Care units and Hospices

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) on 9th July 2024 donated specific essential medical sundries to its member organizations including Little Hospice Hoima, New Life Hospice Arua, Lweza Community Health Programme, SD Cancer and Palliative Care Clinic Jinja, Kitovu Mobile, and Kabale Christian Care.

The distributed items included adult diapers, crutches, cotton and gauze, disposable gloves, colostomy bags, and wheelchairs, specifically aimed at supporting impoverished patients in the community and those living in remote areas of Uganda. The total value of these items was UGX 33 million.

“Caregivers can access gloves in a public facility, but when the patient is discharged from the hospital to go back home, you may not receive a packet of gloves. You will definitely not get a colostomy bag if you need one,” said Mark-Donald Mwesiga, the Executive Director of PCAU.
“Often, when patients are discharged from health facilities, they are left to manage independently. We urgently need the government to recognize home care as a crucial component of palliative care.”

PCAU obtained a grant from the American Cancer Society to offer in-kind help to cancer patients without basic medical supplies at their home or hostel.

“A sufficient quantity of essential medical supplies is necessary for patients receiving palliative care at home in order to manage symptoms, maintain comfort and dignity, assist carers, and enhance overall quality of life,” said Joyce Zalwango, the Capacity Building Manager at PCAU.

“I really want to thank PCAU for their support, especially with the medical supplies like adult diapers. These are a lifeline in our community. Often, there’s only one primary caregiver in the home, and they can become exhausted. But these diapers make a significant difference, improving the quality of life for both the patient and the caregiver. PCAU also helps with home visits, which are invaluable to us,” said Rose Kiwanuka, a retired Palliative Care nurse and the Executive Director of the Lweza Community Health Program.

Palliative care is the active holistic care of individuals across all ages with serious health-related suffering due to severe illness, especially those near the end of life. It aims to improve the quality of life of patients, their families, and their caregivers. (IAHPC Definition of Palliative Care)

Hospital palliative care teams and facility-based services, outreach programmes, roadside clinics, outpatient clinics, and home-based care services are all places in Uganda where palliative care is offered. PCAU aimed to assist financially strapped cancer patients at hospital palliative care units and hospices who are unable to purchase these vital medical sundries, particularly for use at home.

“One of the main objectives of palliative care is to enable patients to spend their time in a familiar setting with loved ones, in a comfortable state. This is made possible by patients’ readiness,” said Joyce Zalwango.

Palliative care services are still scarce in Uganda reaching only 11% of the needy population with adequate treatment.  As well there are 34,008 new cases of cancer per year and the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) receives only 20% of these cases. According to WHO, approximately 700 of the 3000 children in Uganda who receive a cancer diagnosis each year go to the Uganda Cancer Institute to receive treatment.  The majority of these patients remain in the communities in need of care palliative care inclusive.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, PCAU has accredited 230 medical facilities to offer palliative care services including oral liquid morphine in 107 districts of Uganda. “We still have 36 districts in the country without any form of palliative care. I hope that by the end of the year, we will have accredited services in all these areas,” said Mark-Donald Mwesiga.

“We are developing a ‘Palliative Care App’ called ‘PCAU Cares,’ which is available on the Google Play Store.” PCAU’s goal is to ensure that everyone in the country can easily locate the nearest palliative care facility near their residence. In addition to the app, PCAU has also created a directory that will be available at every healthcare facility. “We plan to print a palliative care directory. We aim to distribute these resources to the community so that, as we celebrate 25 years of service, people will have these tools readily accessible,” said Mark-Donald Mwesiga.

This year, PCAU is commemorating 25 years of coordinating and advocating for palliative care in Uganda and will be holding a series of activities like the one today to mark this silver jubilee.

WHO Definition of Palliative Care

WHO defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients – adults and children – and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, impeccable assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual.

About the Palliative Care Association of Uganda

The Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) is the National Association for Palliative Care Providers and well-wishers in Uganda. PCAU was established in 1999 and registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 2003 with the aim of supporting and promoting the development of palliative care in Uganda.

With a membership of 30 Member Organizations and over 1500 individual Members, PCAU works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, other line government ministries, agencies, departments, civil society, and individuals to accelerate the integration of palliative care into the health care system in Uganda.

Contacts for more information and media releases:

Mark Donald Mwesiga
Executive Director, Palliative Care Association of Uganda
Email: mark.mwesiga@pcau.org.ug   or pcau.admin@pcau.org.ug 
Website: http://www.pcauganda.org/ 
Call: +256 392 080713 / +256 414 692350
WhatsApp: +256 789 737786
Tollfree: 0800399100