In recent years, Rwanda has taken significant steps forward in recent years in rolling out palliative care. With the leadership of Government and support from Palliative Care Association of Rwanda, Rwanda’s stand-alone national palliative care policy has committed the country to providing all Rwandans living with life threatening and limiting illnesses, affordable palliative care services to meet their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs by 2020.
These steps forward were celebrated in the country on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Celebrations took place in Rwanda at Kigali Teaching Hospital, Kibagabaga Rwamagana and St John Hospice. The events were full of excitement of participants included medical doctors, nurses, and social workers from across the different hospitals.
The day started in Kigali Teaching Hospital with a tour of the hospital with participants wearing t-shirts with the words. “PALLITAIVE CARE for ALL” written on them. We all carried banners before we stopped to watch the movie “life before death”. The day finished with speeches from the Head of NCDs in the Ministry of Health, the Executive Director of PCAR and representative of palliative care in CHUK.
It was great to see the Rwanda National Television report on the day and to raise awareness of palliative care in Rwanda.
Leave a Reply