EMMS International’s Sunday’s Child Appeal is raising funds to deliver step-change improvements to palliative care across Malawi. The growth in palliative care capacity will be significant during the life time of the project. However, most importantly, this growth will continue thanks to the creation of education and training opportunities and improved hospital facilities.
The appeal is running until 31 January 2015, with every pound raised being match-funded by the UK government so every gift goes further and helps more people get the care they need.
Donations will have a major impact on the capacity of healthcare staff to respond to the massive need for palliative care in Malawi. The project will create three centres of excellence to deliver more palliative care and support student placements. These centres will be developed to levels 1, 2 & 3 of the African Palliative Care Association standards respectively.
In the first year, 40 nurses, clinical officers, medical assistants and health surveillance assistants will be trained using the Ministry of Health/Palliative Care Association of Malawi five-day CPD courses. In addition, 40 lawyers, traditional authority leaders, spiritual leaders and social workers will also receive training to ensure the growth in care reflects the breadth of needs of patients and their families. A total of 400 people will be trained in this way over the three years of the project.
A positive response to the appeal will fund the creation of a new BSc in palliative care at the College of Medicine, meaning that Malawian health professionals can be trained without having to study abroad. It is anticipated that 40 students will complete the BSc during the project, and a further 20 each year thereafter.
The project is also focusing on tackling poverty, improving the lives of vulnerable widows and orphans by ensuring that they understand their rights and are not disinherited, and providing support to enable family members to continue working throughout their loved one’s illness.
James Wells, Chief Executive of EMMS International, says:
“The Sunday’s Child appeal will deliver step-change improvements to palliative care across Malawi. It will build on current and past efforts of EMMS International, the Diana Fund, True Colours and others in partnership with local organisations in Malawi to improve palliative care across the country.
“The project will have a particular focus on rural communities that often struggle to get access to care and support near home. What’s more, in response to your generosity, the UK government will match your donation pound for pound.”
The appeal runs until 31 January 2015 and you can make a gift via the EMMS International website (http://emms.org/sundayschild), or by sending your donation to EMMS International, 7 Washington Lane, Edinburgh, EH11 2HA. You can also donate £5 by texting “Sunday” to 70660
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