Little did we know when the partnership between Center for Hospice Care/Hospice Foundation and the Palliative Care Association of Uganda began in 2008 how great an impact our work would have. Since we became partners under Global Partners in Care (then called FHSSA – Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa) our work has helped make palliative care available in 107 Ugandan districts (similar to states in the US). Thanks to those who have supported our partnership with their time, talent and treasure, thousands of people in need of palliative care in Uganda now have access to skilled compassionate care.

This has been accomplished by work on many fronts, with many collaborators. The number of nurses and clinical officers in rural districts who are now able to prescribe morphine has increased because of the partnership’s support of training programs like the diploma in clinical palliative care program at Hospice Africa Uganda and the advance diploma in palliative care in nursing at Mulago Hospital. Many collaborators, including the University of Notre Dame and the Uganda Ministry of Health have assisted in the mHealth program, which strengthens palliative care surveillance – including monitoring morphine supplies – throughout the country. We have also produced two documentaries (Okuyamba and Road to Hope) that raise awareness about the need for palliative care in low-resource settings and the plight of orphaned child caregivers.

While there is still more work to be done to bring palliative care to a country with 45 million people and a stretched health care infrastructure, much has been accomplished. Whether you’re a member of our world-wide community, a CHC staff member or another stakeholder, we invite you to join us on this journey, if you haven’t already been part of it!