Happy New Year to you all!

As we embark on 2025, we take this moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued community and supporters. Your contributions have been instrumental in advancing the partnership between CHC and PCAU – a collaboration that has grown and flourished over the past 16 years. Together, we have built a foundation of trust, mutual respect, and cultural understanding, creating a partnership that aligns seamlessly with PCAU’s strategic vision of “palliative care for all in Uganda.”

Reflecting on the year gone by, 2024 marked a milestone for PCAU as it celebrated 25 years of impactful work. From increasing access to palliative care in over 100 districts and 300 health facilities across Uganda to expanding scholarships for healthcare workers and supporting vulnerable children through the Road to Hope program, we have made strides in improving lives. These achievements were made possible by your support and belief in our shared mission to bring relief and dignity to those in need.

Mark Mwesiga, Executive Director of PCAU, shares his heartfelt appreciation: “Thank you for standing with PCAU over the years, enabling us to take palliative care to even the most hard-to-reach areas of Uganda. Together, we have entrenched palliative care within the government healthcare system, brought dignity to families, and transformed communities. As we enter 2025, we wish you good health, strong partnerships, and the blessings of continued collaboration. Your support – whether through ideas, resources, or friendship – truly makes a difference in transforming lives.”

We invite you to watch Mark’s full New Year message  here: Mark Mwesiga’s New Year Message – 2025.

CHC looks forward to continuing our partnership with PCAU. Together, we will continue to focus on PCAU’s strategic priorities:

• Building capacity: Expanding access to palliative care, particularly in remote districts, by offering education scholarships to nurses, supporting them, and mentoring them in providing these essential services.
• Advocacy and Awareness: Ensuring palliative care is integrated into Uganda’s healthcare system and recognized as a vital component of community health.
• Strengthening partnerships: Building stronger collaborations with government and other stakeholders to tackle challenges and improve outcomes for people in need.
• Expanding access to essential medicines: Coordinating and supporting the supply chain of critical medications, including pain medicines, to ensure they reach hospitals and homes where they are most needed.
• Child caregiver and education support: Addressing challenges faced by child caregivers by helping them overcome poverty and deprivation, enabling them to achieve an education and build a brighter future.
• Data, research, and informed decision-making: Expanding focus on data and research to better understand needs and make evidence-based decisions.
• Sustainability and Governance: Supporting PCAU staff and structures to coordinate with hospices and other actors for a concerted effort in addressing the high need for pain relief and palliative care services, especially for the many people who are suffering.

This partnership is more than an organizational collaboration; it is a testament to the power of personal connections and shared values. Together, we have learned that relationships, clear communication, and mutual respect are the foundation for success.

John Mastrojohn III, President & CEO, Center for Hospice Care, said “We are immensely grateful to the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) for their partnership. Their exceptional work has not only set a high standard in palliative care but has profoundly transformed the lives of countless patients and families across Uganda. The dedication and compassion they bring to their mission are truly inspiring.

In these early days of 2025, we are filled with optimism and excitement for the future. We are committed to building upon our strong foundation of collaboration and friendship, striving for even greater success and impact.”

As we embrace this New Year, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you – our donors, partners, and friends. Your support drives this partnership forward, enabling us to continue transforming lives and communities across Uganda.

Wishing you a New Year filled with joy, health, and continued collaboration!