On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) hosted a webinar to launch a publication ‘Long-term Care for Older People: Package for Universal Health Coverage’.
The Executive Director of PCAU, Mark-Donald Mwesiga was one of the speakers at the event.
He spoke about the Ugandan models of palliative care delivery mainly emphasizing the community outreach and home visits that reach everyone including older people with life-limiting illnesses.

The launch of this important publication follows other major global milestones such as the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), which was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2020.  

The objectives of the WHO ‘Long-term Care for Older People: package for Universal Health Coverage’ are:

1. To define a list of long-term care interventions to be considered, prioritized, and provided by countries through the integration of health and social care.
2. To support governments and policymakers at the national or subnational level in the planning and implementation of long-term care services.
3. To give visibility and value to the vital role and needs of unpaid carers.

At PCAU we were excited to be part of this important milestone at the launch and to share the Ugandan example. The event provided a very rich narrative on the importance of long-term care to respond to aging and its integration into universal health coverage. Other speakers at the event were representatives from WHO, Danish Health Authority, Tsao Foundation, Singapore, Eulji University Hospital, Republic of Korea, and Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older Persons, Department of Health, Ireland who gave the keynote speech. There were also older persons voices from South Africa who shared their lived experiences.

PCAU is taking deliberate steps on initiatives to spearhead long-term care for older people. We are working with like-minded organizations and seeking more partners and donors to support this important work.