From October 22-25, 2024, PCAU participated at the 8th Public Health Palliative Care International (PHPCI) conference in Bern, Switzerland. This event gathered experts, researchers, and advocates to explore the theme, “Building Bridges Between Science and the People.” The conference underscored the importance of community involvement in delivering compassionate care and addressed global challenges related to serious illness, end-of-life care and grief. It emphasized that achieving dignity and compassion in palliative care requires active community support alongside professional medical services.
PCAU made significant contributions through two oral presentations:
- “Strengthening Palliative Care Data Integration in National Health Management Information System (HMIS): The Mobile Health Surveillance Story of Data Driven by Compassion in Uganda” and
- “Improving Access to Palliative Care Services in Uganda through a Health-Promoting Palliative Care Approach: A Case of Mobile Hospice Mbarara”
PCAU’s Cynthia Kabagambe presents at the Public Health Palliative Care International conference
Through these presentations, PCAU showcased its impactful work and shared valuable insights into community-based palliative care in Uganda, fostering awareness and collaborative potential among international delegates.
The conference reinforced that involving communities in care enhances support for patients and families. Global partnerships emerged as vital for addressing shared challenges, and integrating palliative care into public health policies can lead to better patient outcomes. PCAU and CHC are linked into the larger Global Partners in Care (GPIC) network, and PCAU is sharing lessons learned from this conference with GPIC. PCAU’s participation enabled networking with other institutions for potential collaborations. These relationships will play a crucial role in PCAU’s continued efforts to enhance palliative care for all in Uganda and promoting shared learning across borders.