Tea break reading: African palliative care in the news

12^th April 2014 – 25^th April 2014

News and views:

Editor’s pick:

Africa: African health ministers reaffirm their commitment to make the continent healthy. Luanda Declaration adopted – African Health ministers have pledged to work together to take concrete actions to improve the health of people in the continent. At the end of a two-day meeting held in Luanda, the Angolan capital, the Ministers expressed concern about the numerous challenges facing public health services which continue to hinder Africa´s sustainable socio-economic development. The WHO.
Nigeria and DRC: Lifelines: World Malaria Day google hangout – 40% of all malaria deaths occur in just two countries, Nigeria and the DRC. Find out more on the Al Jazeera ‘World Malaria Day google hangout’. Al Jazeera Youtube.
Rwanda: Rwanda: Add life to days not just days to life – In palliative care, we never say “there is nothing we can do”. It’s care beyond cure, a concept of humanity and a backbone of modern medicine. Dr Christian Ntizimira writes for The New Times.

Elsewhere in the news:

Global: Novartis and GSK to exchange assets and launch joint venture – Novartis will acquire GSK’s cancer drugs business for $16bn (£9.5bn). BBC Business.
Africa: HIV: Violations or investments in women’s rights? – In the context of widespread sexual violence and its reciprocal links to HIV, Alice Welbourn reports on how the formal scientific evidence base alone is beginning to be recognized as not fit-for-purpose to safeguard women’s rights. Open Democracy.
Kenya: High incidences of cancer call for palliative care in Murang’a – Palliative Care Unit plans underway for Murang’a Hospital to meet the needs of increased patients with life threatening illnesses. Kenya edition of ehospice.
Zimbabwe/South Africa: Zimbabwean/Irish golfer designates $15000 to South Coast Hospice Association – In March this year Mark McNulty designated a cheque in the amount of $15000 from the renowned Presidents Cup to South Coast Hospice Association. Africa edition of ehospice.
Uganda: Briefing: Punitive aid cuts disrupt healthcare in Uganda – Since the enactment of a draconian anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda just over a month ago, donors have been slashing or suspending aid to the country in protest. Health officials, activists and NGOs warn that this could have a major impact on healthcare services, particularly for HIV/AIDS patients. IRIN News.
Uganda: Photos from the Hollywood launch of ‘Road to Hope’. The celebrity photo site CropPix has published a series of photographs from the launch of the film, ‘Road to Hope’. CROPPIX.
Uganda: How to relieve painful ulcers – Berna Basemera from the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) talks to the New Vision about relieving bedsores. New Vision.
Uganda: HIV-negative man sues Rubaga hospital for putting him on ARVs – Mr Zebron Hategeka, who says he was wrongly put on ARVs for the last 15 years, wants Rubaga hospital to compensate him for alleged financial sabotage he suffered. Daily Monitor.
South Africa: Childhood TB cases spark calls for wider screening – One new mother’s good deed may have exposed her seven-month-old baby to tuberculosis (TB). Health-e News.
South Africa: HPCA partners with government to improve patient care in South Africa – CaSIPO (Care and Support to Improve Patient Outcomes) was launched last month in Johannesburg. South Africa edition of ehospice.

Research:

South Africa/Kenya/Uganda – A Psychometric Evaluation of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal) Scale with Palliative Care Samples in Three African Countries – The FACT-Pal is a reliable multidimensional scale for people with life-limiting, incurable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and the observed factors are interpretable and clinically meaningful. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Failing to numb the pain: The untreated epidemic – study published in the South African Medical Journal.

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.
USA: 2014 New York City Fund-Raising Reception for the African Hospice Initiative – Dr. Joseph O’Neill will be the featured speaker at this year’s Reception. Please join us to welcome this pioneer of palliative care and global health. We also will hear stories from the field from Val Maasdorp, the Clinical Director of Island Hospice Service in Zimbabwe. 22^nd April 2014. AHI.