Tea break reading: African palliative care in the news

6^th September – 19^th September 2014

News and views:

Editor’s pick:

Africa: Child mortality slashed by 48% in sub-Saharan Africa – New data released by the United Nations shows that despite big improvements child mortality rates in Africa are still some of the worst in the world. Africa edition of ehospice.
Namibia: Launch of the Namibian Children’s Palliative Care Network – The International Children’s Palliative Care Network conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) course in Namibia, and ended the week with the launch of the Namibian Children’s Palliative Care Network. ehospice.
South Africa: A Witness to AIDS in South Africa – A powerful video photography from the New York Times.

Elsewhere in the news:

Global: To Die with Dignity? – The BBC goes to Belgium, a country generally doesn’t create many headlines. Earlier this year though, its parliament voted to allow children to decide whether they wanted to end their own lives. BBC World Service goes to explore the issue of ‘dying with dignity’.
Global: The state of global health in 2014 – the article describes the current global burden of disease throughout the life cycle, highlighting regional differences in the unfinished agenda of communicable diseases and reproductive, maternal, and child health and the additive burden of emerging non-communicable diseases and injuries. Science Magazine.
Global: LGBT communities and end of life care – As Trinity Hospice prepares for the launch of its LGBT Friends Group next week, CEO Dallas Pounds writes for ehospice about the hospice’s commitment to improve its relationship with people from lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. UK edition of ehospice.
Global: Discussion of palliative care on Twitter is largely positive, and increasing – Dr Amara Nwosu writes for ehospice UK about his study on the use of Twitter to communicate about issues around palliative care and end of life, which was published recently in the BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care journal. UK edition of ehospice.
Africa – Why I will be running for the African Palliative Care Association – Steve Hynd, the editor of the Africa edition of ehospice, explains in a blog post why he is running a half-marathon to raise funds and awareness for the African Palliative Care Association. Africa edition of ehospice and Hynd’s Blog.
Namibia: The comfort of care to lighten the burden – Since 2007 the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) has supported the integration of palliative care into Namibia’s health care system through a variety of activities including advocacy and awareness as well as the training of community based organisations… The Republikien.
Zambia: Training community caregivers in Zambia – Anayawa Siamianze, the Programme Manager at the Palliative Care Alliance Zambia, writes for ehospice about a successful recent training given to community care givers. Africa edition of ehospice.
Kenya: I Was Determined to Beat Cancer – Bidanya Barassa – Kenyan beauty queen and cancer survivor Bidanya Barassa has been appointed new brand champion of the Nairobi Hospice. The Star and Ghafla.
Uganda: Geriatric treatment effective for chronic illnesses – Older palliative care patients are prone to chronic illnesses preceded by lengthy periods of decline and functional impairment. NBS TV.
Uganda: Palliative care staff learning French at Hospice Africa Uganda – Staff from Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) and the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) have this week started a French language course held twice a week at HAU. Africa edition of ehospice.
Uganda: Talk to children about HIV/Aids, says Kabaka – Uganda’s HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 7.3 per cent with the epidemic being high among married people. Daily Monitor.

Jobs, awards and events:

Global: 2nd Paediatric Palliative Care Congress in Rome – The 2nd Paediatric Palliative Care Congress is to take place from 19 – 21 November 2014 in Rome. ehospice.
Global: #HPMGlobal twitter chat. Join Jim Cleary on twitter at 3pm (East Africa Time) every Monday to discuss the latest global palliative care issues. Twitter
Global: World Congress of Psycho-Oncology – The congress, which will be based around the theme of ‘Integrating phsycho-oncology into mainstream cancer care; from research into action’, will bring together experts from around the world to discuss new perspectives in clinical care, new data from research, innovative educational programs, advocacy, organisational issues and cancer policies. It is to beheld in Lisbon, Portugal from 20 to 24 of October 2014. International edition of ehospice.
Africa: Find all the latest jobs in palliative care and related fields – Visit ehospice’s job site to see the latest jobs in palliative care. African edition of ehospice.
Uganda: World Palliative Care Day event – Soccer Gala – PCAU is hosting a Soccer Gala to mark the World Palliative Care Day Event. 08:00am – 14:00pm 11^th October 2014. PCAU.
Kenya: Nairobi Hospice Annual Charity Walk – Nairobi Hospice Annual Charity Walk is on 27th September 2014 at Hillcrest Secondary School. More on the Africa edition of ehospice.
Kenya: The 4th Kenya National Palliative Care Conference 2014 – Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) is delighted to announce the 4th National Palliative Care Conference scheduled to take place from 12th to 14th November 2014 at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi. KEHPCA.
Nigeria: 54th Society of Physiotherapy Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting – the sub-theme for this year’s conference is ‘The Role of Physiotherapy in Palliative Care for Terminally ill Patients’. It will take place in Asaba, Delta State between the 20^th and 25^th October 2014. NSP.