Palliative Care Association of Uganda – PCAU equipped health workers from the West Nile region with basic skills and knowledge in palliative care service provision.

The three-day training took place at Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th June and was attended by 38 private and public health care workers from 22 health facilities in 5 districts of West Nile, that is to say, Yumbe, Moyo, Koboko, Obongi, and Adjumani Districts.

The Hospital Director Dr. Patrick Odong Olwedo applauded PCAU for championing palliative care by offering training and scholarships.

“Palliative care is one of the disciplines that are very important in our service delivery. We have many people who are suffering from terminal illnesses, and pain and they need to be cared for but Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital is the only one with these services in the region, we’re overwhelmed with large numbers yet we don’t have enough human resource. We are happy that the Palliative Care Association of Uganda has offered the training to our health workers who will start delivering the service with more knowledge and efficiency. Palliative care service has to be integrated at all levels in our public hospitals at a regional level and also nationally as well.” Said Olwedo.

Dr. Olwedo challenges government to prioritize palliative care and use community-based approaches.

“Government should train more people. I’m happy that PCAU is training people for different qualification levels in palliative care. Even those who do not get the academic papers should be mentored and guided about palliative care. We try to do home visits which are very expensive in this region, my nurses tell me that there are patients they fail to reach. There should be a change in approach. Government should capacitate us to make community outreaches.” Olwedo.

In partnership with the American Cancer Society, PCAU is undertaking activities aimed to improve access to pain relief for cancer patients and others with conditions requiring palliative care in Uganda.

The training covered several pertinent areas that include the Hospice concept and fundamentals of Palliative Care, the role of MoH in Palliative Care Service, personal awareness, Communication Skills and how to break bad news, pain assessment, symptom assessment and control, spiritual and cultural issues about Palliative Care, Networking and referrals, data tools training, use of morphine as well as practical sessions on the wards.

The trained healthcare workers will be the contact persons for Palliative Care services in their communities.

The training was facilitated and officiated by Dr. Patrick Odong Olwedo Yumbe RR Hospital Director, Assistant Commissioner for Hospice and Palliative Care Services at MoH Dr. Moses Muwanga, Dr. Jackson Obaku, Palliative care nurses that included Sr. Viola Ederu, Sr. Vicky Opia, and Sr. Okello Mary Philomena.