The Hospice African Adventure celebrates its first month on the road; 12 countries crossed, 5654 miles travelled and my first hospice visited!
Leaving Egypt on the Aswan ferry boat to Sudan was a relief with the political stability of Egypt becoming more volatile by the day.
Fuel is in short supply and no-one knows what is around the corner. Over the past week I have been travelling through changing landscapes from the dry desert of Sudan to the lush winter mountains of Ethiopia.
The people I have met along the way have been very friendly and welcoming though a little intrigued by the arrival of a foreigner on a BMW bike! After many miles, I finally reached Khartoum, the location of my first African Hospice.
The Palliative Care Unit at the The Radiation and Isotope Centre of Khartoum (RICK) was the first hospice that I visited since setting foot on the African continent.
I was privileged to spend 2 days with the medical professionals running this great unit in a country in which medical care is poorly financed. The Palliative Care unit has eight beds, caring for both adults and children. I was able to make a home visit to understand and witness the out-reach program first hand.
The experience for myself was difficult, trying to understand the conditions and hurdles both patients and staff are up against; staff working without pay, patients having to fund their own medication, the ward having no secure future and bureaucratic corruption.
The Palliative Care Unit at RICK was established in 2011, and was the first palliative care facility in Sudan. Against many financial and logistical hurdles, Dr Hahlar Gafer through her determination and passion, successfully established a ward for eight patients, a phenomenal achievement in a country in which medical provision is poorly funded.
With assistance and training from Esther Walker (MBE), a British palliative care nurse,
the Palliative Care Unit has cared for over 800 patients and offers a ‘Home Visit’ service caring for over 100 patients in and around Khartoum.
North Devon Hospice badges were presented to all staff at the unit to create linked hospices across Africa as I continue this journey. The badges are being worn with much pride and honour. I will be visiting the next Hospice in Addis Ababa is two days.
Keep up to date with Russell’s journey on the Hospice African Adventure Website.
Read more about the Palliative Care Unit in Khartoum online.
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