The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) is delighted to announce the inaugural recipient of the Dr Anne Merriman Award for Excellence in Palliative Care in Africa, a prestigious new recognition established by the Government of Ireland in 2025 to honour the life and legacy of the late Dr Anne Merriman. Dr Merriman, an Irish humanitarian and pioneer of palliative care in Africa, founded Hospice Africa Uganda in 1993 and dedicated her life to ensuring that patients with life-limiting illnesses could access pain relief, dignity and compassionate care. Her pioneering work transformed palliative care across the continent and continues to inspire generations of health professionals. She passed away in May 2025 at the age of 90. Funded through Irish Aid and administered by the African Palliative Care Association (APCA), the award is presented every two years and includes a prize of €20,000. It recognises individuals or organisations demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, research, compassionate care, and long-term commitment to advancing palliative care in Africa. Following a continent-wide call for nominations in June 2026, APCA received more than 60 highly competitive submissions from individuals and organisations from 18 African countries. An independent panel of judges drawn from Africa and beyond reviewed the nominations and, using 4 criteria areas of (i) Innovation, (ii) Person-centred care, (iii) Patient & family quality of life, and (iv) Collaboration and partnership, they selected a shortlist of outstanding finalists. In the organisational category, honourable mention was awarded to PatchSA of South Africa, recognised for its significant contributions to children’s palliative care and support to programmes across Africa. Other finalists included the Hamba Nawe Project, PaedsPal, and Umduduzi Hospice Care for Children, all from South Africa. In the individual category, honourable mention was awarded to Dr Michelle Meiring of South Africa as first individual runner up for her exceptional contribution to palliative care development nationally and across the continent. Fellow finalists included Ms. Witness Chilenga of Tanzania and Mr. Ephrem Abathun of Ethiopia. APCA is proud to announce the inaugural winner of the of the award, Dr Nahla Gafer, a clinical oncologist from Sudan whose visionary leadership has transformed palliative care services in her country and influenced practice across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The much-anticipated announcement was made at a national Palliative Care Symposium in Windhoek, Namibia, convened by the Ministry of Health and Social Services Namibia in partnership with Hope Home Based Care and the African Palliative Care Association to commemorate the 2026 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Dr. Nahla Gafer: Inspired by training at Hospice Africa Uganda in 2009,establishing Sudan’s first comprehensive palliative care service at Khartoum Oncology Hospital in 2010, Dr Gafer has led the care of more than 6,000 patients, pioneered home-based palliative care programmes, trained multidisciplinary health professionals, and championed the integration of palliative care into oncology services. Despite the ongoing conflict in Sudan, she has continued supporting displaced patients through telehealth, community networks and home-based care while mentoring colleagues across the region. Congratulating the winner on behalf of Irish Aid, Irish Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Neale Richmond, reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to dignity and compassion in health care. Dr Gafer’s unwavering compassion, resilience and leadership make her a fitting inaugural recipient of an award that reflects the enduring legacy of Dr Anne Merriman and her vision that every person should have access to quality palliative care when they need it most.