The Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance has announced the date of their next World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), an annual event to shine a spotlight on the need for global palliative care. This year the awareness day will be on Saturday 9th October.
The 2021 theme is – ‘Leave no one behind – equity in access to palliative care’
The day is designed to celebrate the world of palliative care, showing the world how vital it is, and why we must make sure everyone has access, no matter where they live, who they love, what their age or their background. Voices will be heard as people living with palliative care needs and those that care for them, speak out, telling compelling stories to make you laugh, cry and think! As the world is still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, where palliative care has become even more vital, we will ask policy makers to ensure an essential package of palliative care services is tailored to individual needs. WHPCD will show why palliative care should be included within countries’ plans and budgets to “build back better” so governments finance palliative care for all.
Why do we need WHPCD?
Palliative care is not part of universal health coverage in many countries across the world. For years palliative care has not been adequately funded. We need WHPCD to shine a light on the inequity in access to palliative care across the globe. This includes lack of equitable access for most people living in low and middle income countries, neonates, children, and young people, those that are homeless, LGBTQ+ people, people living with physical or mental impairment, the prison population, those living in humanitarian crisis situations, the elderly, those living with HIV and TB and all those that have been affected by COVID-19.
Last year WHPCD took place despite being in the midst of the global pandemic. Materials were utilised around the world and 104 events were registered from 42 different countries.
The 2021 event map, to register your WHPCD is now live. Register your event here.
More details will be released in the coming weeks. To keep up to date with WHPCD news, sign up for the WHPCA newsletter here.
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