I am currently in Uganda with the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU) for three weeks to touch base on several of our partnership initiatives. We are looking forward to the continued growth and impact of our collaborations.
The Road to Hope Program (RTH)
The 55 children who are in the program will come together on Feb 2nd and 3rd for the annual children’s camp and empowerment retreat – both are opportunities for them to gather, share, celebrate and learn from one another. Whenever the children meet, there’s the component of fun, but counselors and role models are also included in the camp to help nurture the children’s well-being. The program continues to transform the lives of the children and their families.
We are also looking forward to implementing a new project to help support vocational schooling and business start-ups for RTH graduates. Over the next few weeks we will be working on the implementation plan for this project.
Palliative Care Nursing Scholarships
The advanced diploma in palliative care nursing (ADPCN) will welcome a new class in February. Between 2010 and 2022, our partnership has provided 93 scholarships to train nurses in palliative care. These nurses have helped extend palliative care services to 107 of the 146 Uganda’s districts. The high demand for palliative care providers continues to be at the heart of PCAU’s work. CHC/HF’s support has been a main pillar in improving access to care for many Ugandans in need.
Improving Data on Palliative Care
This project, more commonly known as our mHealth initiative, has made great progress in generating the evidence base for palliative care services in Uganda. Over the years CHC/HF has supported PCAU in developing a set of indicators that are now integrated within Uganda’s national data system at the Ministry of Health. At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Health launched a data dashboard for palliative care in the national electronic data health information system – an exciting development. As the country begins collecting palliative care data in a more organized manner, PCAU looks forward to utilizing this to inform decision making, improve advocacy and guide research. This was the strategic goal when the mHealth project began!
There are many exciting developments and I’m grateful to spend some time with the PCAU team in person. Visiting PCAU always provides a better opportunity to plan, share and reflect on our partnership.
Along with Mark Mwesiga, executive director of PCAU, we wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year. It’s a joy working with you to champion PCAU’s vision of palliative care for all in Uganda. Each year together evokes hope for a bright, promising future where we will meet this vision. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to continuing our relationship with you in 2023!
