The theme for World Hospice Palliative Care Day 2022 is Healing Hearts and Communities. In line with this the Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) launched their World Day campaign on the 21st September and 29 member hospices are participating.
Focusing on the theme of grief, the campaign asks every person who has experienced grief, whether personally or in solidarity with another, to wear a ribbon on their right wrist. “The last few years have been grief filled for everyone. Globally, there are billions of ‘the walking wounded’. And we are all grieving. There are those that are facing life-threatening diagnoses, and there are those that are grieving both literal and emotional deaths,” says Dr Ewa Skowronska, CEO of the HPCA. “But there is hope. We can help each other to heal hearts and communities.”
HPCA are working closely with our members and many partners (including the Palliative Care Advisory Group, National and Provincial Departments of Health and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation) to promote a nationwide call to action. As part of the campaign, hospices and palliative care organisations in South Africa were encouraged to sell the ribbons to the public. 29 of HPCA’s member organisations stepped forward and their creativity has been inspiring to witness. For example:
- Centurion Hospice in Guateng are offering a free coffee in their coffee shop to anyone who buys 5 ribbons or more. On World Day any person purchasing a ribbon will have an opportunity to pop a balloon and be line to win a free scone and tea.
- South Coast Hospice in Kwazulu-Natal will be holding a promotion at South Coast Mall on Saturday 8 October 2022. Ribbons can also be collected on the day to participate in their “You Matter” Teddy-On-The-Move campaign says CEO of South Coast Hospice, Diane Van Dyk.
For more about the campaign and a full list of hospices participating in World Hospice Palliative Care Day please visit: https://hpca.co.za/world-hospice-and-palliative-care-day/
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