Tea break reading: African palliative care in the news

28^st June – 4^th July 2014

News and views:

Editor’s pick:

Global: WPCA joins international alliance to help tackle dementia – The Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) has joined the Global Alzheimer’s and Dementia Action Alliance. ehospice.
South Sudan: “Destruction of medical facilities are denying medical services” MSF – Violence in hospitals and the destruction of medical facilities are denying medical services to many of South Sudan’s most vulnerable people, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said today in a report, South Sudan Conflict: Violence Against Healthcare. Africa edition of ehospice, All Africa, Sudan Tribune, Voice of America, and Radio Tamazuj
South Africa: Graça Machel speaks of her loss for the first time – Nelson Mandela’s widow has spoken to the press in South Africa. The Mail and Guardian reports as she spoke of their love, her grief and how she censored the media so Madiba would not read bad news about his beloved ANC. Africa edition of ehospice.

Elsewhere in the news:

West Africa: Africa battles to stop deadly spread of ebola – Sky News is given exclusive access as medics in West Africa battle to contain the worst ever outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. Sky News.
Uganda: Frank’s story: He had a chance “to come to terms with being at the end of his life” – Zena Bernacca, the former CEO of Hospice Africa Uganda writes about her interaction with Frank *not his real name* Africa edition of ehospice.
Uganda: Flat funding, harsh laws could hurt Uganda’s battle against HIV – Inadequate funding coupled with harsh laws targeting same sex unions could erode the gains so far made in the fight against HIV in Uganda, activists warn. IRIN News.
Kenya: Pharmacists commence three day palliative care training – More pharmacists trained to enhance holistic care of patients faced with life threatening illnesses. Kenya edition of ehospice.
South Africa: Funding cut shuts pain unit – The palliative care unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital has been shut down. Times LIVE.
Cote d’Ivoire: “Why Did My Wife Stop Taking Life-Saving HIV Medication?” – As Kouakou Brice, from the Ivory Coast, tries to come to terms with his wife Leonine’s death, he finds it hard to understand why she stopped taking her HIV medication…All Africa.
Nigeria: 3.5 Million Nigerians Still Living With HIV – Kazeem, has said that the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) related death has increased in the country in recent time owing to inability of the nation to attain expected target in the treatment of the health crisis. All Africa.

Research:

Global: Gender inequality and HIV transmission: a global analysis – Gender inequality is an important factor in the maintenance – and possibly in the establishment of – generalized HIV epidemics. We should view improvements in gender inequality as part of a broader public health strategy. Journal of the International AIDS Society.
Global: Genetics dominant risk factor in common cancers – A study of individuals who have been adopted has identified genetics as the dominant risk factor in ‘familial’ breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. MNT.

Jobs, awards and events:

Global: 2nd Paediatric Palliative Care Congress in Rome – An announcement has been made that both the Abstract and Early Bird Registration deadlines have been extended for the 2nd Paediatric Palliative Care Congress to take place from 19 – 21 November 2014 in Rome. Both these deadlines have been extended to 15 July 2014. 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: 20th International AIDS Conference – The conference will be held from 20-25 July 2014 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, in Melbourne, Australia and will represent a tremendous opportunity to highlight the diverse nature of the Asia Pacific region’s HIV epidemic and the unique responses to it. International AIDS Society.
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.
South Africa: HPCA 2014 Conference – Who Cares? Improving patient outcomes – The conference will be held between the 15^th and 18^th September 2014 at the Lagood Beach Hotel in Cape Town. More details on the HPCA Conference Website.
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.