The visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, the Duchess’ compassionate speech supporting palliative care for children and the wonderful work of Hospis Malaysia, resulted in a statement from the Malaysian Ministry of Health committing to the development of new programmes in 25 hospitals throughout the country.
Hospis Malaysia cares for between 300 and 400 patients at any one time, through highly professional care in the home. Providing education on different aspects of palliative care is a large part of the programme, and the hospice has an excellent training wing.
Dr Ednin Hamzah, the Medical Director of Hospis Malaysia, struck while the iron was hot, and invited the ICPCN to arrange a 3 day training for 50 health care professionals – doctors (including a number of paediatricians) and nurses from different hospitals and NGOs, including the staff from Hospis Malaysia. Dr Helen Fleming from Queensland, Australia; Dr Pradnya Talewadekar from Mumbai, India; and Joan Marston from the ICPCN enjoyed a stimulating and interesting 3 days with the participants.
Malaysia already had two strong advocates in Dr Kuan Geok Lan and Dr Khoo Teik Ben, and we believe that the group that met to discuss ways to take palliative care for children forward in Malaysia, with the support of Dr Hamzah and Hospis Malaysia, will meet the challenge for paediatric palliative care in the country.
Read more about the growth and development of the children’s programme at Hospis Malaysia through funding from the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce in this article that ran in the International edition of ehospice on 4 December.
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