34 graduate from the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa with a Diploma in Clinical Palliative Care

34 graduates from as far-a-field as Nigeria graduated from the IHPCA last week with a Diploma in Clinical Palliative Care.

The IHPCA was accredited in 2009 by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Uganda and is the education arm of the Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). It has to date trained over 8,000 people in palliative care with 131 students graduating in the Diploma in Clinical Palliative Care.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the founder of HAU, Dr Anne Merriman, commented that she was “so proud of each and every graduate who had sacrificed do much to complete their studies”. Dr Merriman went onto to say that each of the students now carried the light of palliative care and would be ambassadors of hope in each of their communities.

Dr Merriman went onto talk of the ‘hospice ethos’ that ran throughout the course saying, “your care will go far to inspire others through the hospice ethos you have learnt”.

Professor Wilson Acuda, the Principle of IHPCA, congratulated the students but also gave them advice for the challenges that awaited them. He said, “We are aware that some if not most of you are facing numerous challenges at your places of work. We have tried our best to prepare you for them, but we cannot make you immune to them. We hope that you will continue to put into practice the knowledge that you have acquired during the course…You have the most important role of fulfilling HAU’s vision of palliative care reaching all in Uganda who need it”.

Dr Emmanuel Luyirika, the Deputy Chair of the IHPCA Governing Council and the Executive Director of the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) said, “Congratulations to each of the graduates who now will lead by example on the front line of care provision not just all across Uganda but the entire continent”.

The day of celebrations also held a sombre note though as a minutes silence was held in tribute to Claire Muhumuza who recently passed away. Her certificate and diploma was awarded posthumously.

The students who graduated were: