Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) held the AGM on Friday, May 28th, 2021. Thank you, Board of directors, Ministry of Health officials, partners, supporters, employees, and everyone that attended the AGM. PCAU is grateful for your ongoing interest and support.

The AGM is the Association’s top governing body, and it is made up of individual members, life members, and organizational members. It is held annually to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to learn about and vote on PCAU issues as well as the association’s board of directors.

The AGM was held at Fairway Hotel in Kampala and online, and it included a summary of the annual report for 2020 and a presentation focusing on PCAU’s plans for 2021, the presentation and approval of the audited financial statements, the selection of new auditors, the election of new board members, and the launch of Uganda’s essential palliative care package for Universal Health Coverage. A total of 100 persons attended the event.

Some of the key highlights from the PCAU annual report 2020 included the following;

• The Ministry of Health has been spearheading continuous efforts to strengthen palliative care data collection and information through the development of the Health Management Information System registration and trainings have been ongoing.
• Morphine survey conducted to determine accredited facilities that order well for morphine and how they fare; the data will assist the supply chain in determining how to better serve the facilities.
• Providing basic relief support to child caregivers through the Road to Hope program throughout the difficult period of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 interventions that aided in the continuity of palliative care services throughout the country.
• Empowering persons with palliative care lived experiences to be champions for the inclusion of palliative care in Uganda’s UHC processes.

During the AGM, Dr. Jackson Amone, Commissioner Clinical Services of the Ministry of Health, and the PCAU Board of Directors launched the Essential Palliative Care Package for Universal Health Coverage in Uganda. The package outlines four main areas for which we must all campaign as we advocate for inclusion in universal health coverage, which is as follows:

1. Essential medicines for palliative care that need to be included on the essential medicines list for Uganda.
2. Essential equipment, patient supportive devices, technologies, and supplies recommended for home care and facility use.
3. Human Resource and Palliative Care Education.
4. Psychosocial Support interventions.

At the ceremony, four new members were elected to the PCAU board of directors. We are grateful and excited to have the elected members join the board and contribute their unique experience and insights to PCAU’s activities. Grace Nayiga, Dr. Kirungi Gloria Kasozi, Dr. Miriam Ajambo, and CPA Dr. Timothy Basiima are among the new board members. These will serve with Dr. Henry Ddungu, John Muwonge, Josephine Kampi, Gerever Niwagaba and Hajjati Mwazi Batuli who will continue to serve on the board.

PCAU thanks and congratulates the departing board members for their devotion and contribution to the PCAU mission. These included Dr. Ekiria Kikule, Hajjati Dr. Safina Musene, Mrs. Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi, and Dr. Andrew Ocero.

During the AGM, several persons received certificates of recognition as well as gratitude awards for their contributions to PCAU’s efforts. Life members, long-serving personnel, departing board members, and organizations that have aided in the development of palliative care in Uganda were among those honored.
Thank you to everyone who helped make 2020 a successful year in providing palliative care services to all Ugandans in need. We are excited about another year of excellent accomplishments.