FAQs

Why is palliative care important in Africa?
Palliative Care is important in every country. 
 
However, it is essential in countries where there is a paucity of curative treatment. In many countries, 95% of cancer patients are lying at home with growing tumours and in severe pain. They need pain and symptom control to allow compassionate total care to relieve them and their families, allowing them to die in peace.
What is “African” palliative care?

Palliative care adapted to the culture, economy and spiritual beliefs/faith of the individual.  

What is the vision of Hospice Africa?

Palliative care for all in need in Africa. 

What is the mission of Hospice Africa Uganda?

To bring peace to the suffering in Africa, through providing and facilitating affordable and accessible palliative care in Uganda and other African countries. 

Hospice Africa Uganda was founded to spread the vision of Hospice Africa, serving as a model that could be adapted to other African countries.

What type of patients does Hospice Africa Uganda assist?

HAU provides holistic care to patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses and chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV, TB, etc. Holistic care includes pain control, counselling, and psychosocial support programmes. 

What other patient services does Hospice Africa Uganda provide?
Daycare: an opportunity for patients well enough to socialise with others in similar conditions and participate in activities like crafts, mat weaving, beading, etc. They also recieve medical check-ups, reflexology, and free meals. 
 
Outreach clinics: are attached to health centres or even churches. 
 
Road side clinics:  patients outside the catchment area, but living in route to the outreach clinic, can be seen at the side of the road, or in the car. This saves a long and expensive journey that they may not have the time or money to undertake. Commenced in Mbarara, Uganda. 
How do you manage between visits if there is a crisis?

We have an emergency team on 24 hours a day that can be contacted via mobile phones. 

How many inpatient beds two you have?

None. Our care is mainly in the patient’s home. We also conduct consultations at hospitals and health centres, where we arrange for at home care, so the patients can return home to his/her family.

How do you reach patients in the villages without referrals?

We train community volunteers, chosen by the community and through the village chief. These community volunteers are taught basic nursing skills, disease control and how to wash wounds without getting infected.  They are also given small amounts of medications as well as essentials like soap, disinfectant, rubber gloves, etc. 

Are your services affiliated with a specific religion?

No. We are interfaith organisation. We see and help people of all faith, praying and supporting them in their own beliefs to reach God.

What is the spirit of the work?

Our primary ethos is: the patient and family are at the centre of all we do.

What is the difference between Hospice Africa and Hospice Africa Uganda?

Hospice Africa was founded with the vision for the whole of Africa. It would create a model that would be affordable and culturally adaptable to any other African country. Uganda was chosen for that model following a feasibility study in 1993. 

Hospice Africa was registered in Liverpool, U.K. in 1993.

Hospice Africa Uganda was registered in Uganda in 1994.