Tea break reading: African palliative care in the news

3^rd May – 9^th May 2014

News and views:

Editor’s pick:

Global: ehospice up for top award – ehospice has been shortlisted for the prestigious Charity Awards, which recognise and reward those organisations doing exceptional work in all areas of charitable activity. ehospice. (You can also watch ehospice’s new video on Youtube).
Africa: Studying the role of volunteers in palliative care – Carolin Loth, a medical PhD student from the University of Bonn in Germany is currently studying in Uganda exploring the role of volunteers in palliative care services. She writes for ehospice about this global study. Africa edition of ehospice.
Kenya: Dr Brigid Sirengo on NTV – The benefit of palliative care as explained by Dr Brigid Sirengo, Nairobi Hospice CEO and patient testimonies. Watch NTV on ehospice Kenya or Kenyan TV.

Elsewhere in the news:

Global: The emotional and psychological impact of cancer – live discussion – Read back through the Guardian’s panel discussion on the emotional impact of cancer and how to deal with it. The Guardian.
Africa: The importance of monitoring and evaluation in palliative care – Immaculate Mukasa from the African Palliative Care Association writes for ehospice about the importance of M&E in palliative care after her organisations annual review meeting. Africa edition of ehospice.
Africa: World facing polio health emergency – The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of polio is an international public health emergency. BBC Health.
Africa: Maternal deaths falling worldwide, says WHO – However, in sub-Saharan Africa, a 15-year-old girl has a one in 40 risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth. BBC Health.
Cameroon: Getting vulnerable groups out of TB’s shadow – On the occasion of World TB Day this year, a Cameroonian non-governmental organization, FIS (For Impacts in Social Health), targeted several vulnerable groups – including sex workers and refugees – through a series of outreach activities to educate on the threat of TB, as well as the availability of free TB treatment in the country. Stop TB Partnership.
Uganda: HIV/AIDS high infection rate worries UN – The high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Uganda is a bad signal, UNDP country representative, Almaz Gebru, has said. New Vision.
South Africa: Tragedy highlights need for palliative care – A recent article in the Sunday Tribune, a South African weekly newspaper, takes a deeper look at the unbearable burden of care that led a South African mother living in London to kill her three children suffering with SMA and try to kill herself. The story highlights most poignantly the need for more and better palliative care services around the world. Africa edition of ehospice.
South Africa: The kindness of strangers can help – Death and dying is a topic that is not often discussed. Caring for patients with terminal illnesses requires dedication and commitment. The Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa provides support and training to member Hospices around the country. FNB Blog.

Research:

South Africa: South Africa’s battle against HIV/AIDS gains momentum – A recent survey by South African researchers emphasises the weaknesses and strengths of the country’s current eﬀ orts to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic. John Maurice reports. The Lancet.
South Africa: Community care workers, poor referral networks and consumption of personal resources in rural South Africa – South Africa’s health care system, like other low and middle income countries, struggles to cope with the collision of four excessive health burdens: (1) communicable diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB); (2) non-communicable diseases; (3) maternal, neonatal and child deaths and; (4) deaths from injury and violence and underlying determinants… PLOS ONE.

Jobs, awards and events:

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.
Global: African health forum – Astrategic meeting between african and international decision makers. Geneva 16-17^th May 2014. AHF.
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.