Hello to all of our Cairdeas supporters! As you may have seen, our 2025 Cairdeas Gathering is taking place soon, on November 29^th from 3pm-5pm. It will be a hybrid meeting, so you can join us in person, at Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, or online by registering here.

In the run up to the Gathering, we wanted to share some ways that supporters can get involved and support some of the projects which will be discussed during this time. The past few years have been increasingly tough for charities and NGOs, as costs rise, donations fall and aid funding is drastically cut. Despite these challenges, we have continued to work to support our partners around the world as they deliver vital, compassionate care to patients and families, at times in the face of instability, targeted violence and displacement.

“Then we had the war. Without any warning, suddenly. Some people were trapped, some people were outside their homes and because of the war they stayed outside their homes for weeks.” Dr Nahla Gafer

One of the projects we support is the Sunshine in War project, working in Sudan to support patients and families displaced by the awful violence which has gripped the country during recent years. Targeted attacks on hospitals, skyrocketing costs of medical treatment and the difficulty and danger of travelling have all contributed to a difficult financial situation for the team. In the face of these enormous challenges, they have found innovative ways to continue caring for their patients, moving consultations online and visiting patients in spite of the danger to their safety.

“With the help of Cairdeas we managed to have an office in a city in the North…the team is working from the office there and connecting with other members and patients.” Dr Nahla Gafer

Cairdeas was recently able to facilitate a donation of around £4000 to the Sunshine in War team by PallCHASE, a close partner who focus on palliative care in areas of humanitarian crisis. Through this, the team have been able to continue using their office for administrative work, and their ledgers in Damar and Khartoum, providing a facility for patients to receive the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual care they so desperately need. We are delighted that the team received this money, but with high costs and so many patients in need of care, we know that they need more.

“With these organisations supporting the team…we reached more than 800 of our patients and we are receiving new cases. They [the team] became known in the new places they re-located to.” Dr Nahla Gafer

We want to increase the support we give to the Sunshine in War team, and we can only do that through donations from our supporters. If you are able, we would like to ask that you consider setting up a regular donation, to allow us to support this amazing team doing such critical work for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

If you are already a regular donor, we thank you for your support, and ask if you would consider increasing your donation amount, to allow us to increase the support we can give to Sunshine in War, during a time when the violence in Sudan is at a frightening level, and people with life-limiting illnesses are extremely vulnerable.

How your support makes a difference:

• £10 funds 5 patients’ virtual care for a month
• £20 funds 4 in-person patient visits by the team

How to Give:

• Click here to go to our donations page – choose Sunshine in War in the dropdown menu

Thank you, from all the team at Cairdeas.

Cairdeas is pleased to be welcoming two new scholars into our scholarship program this year. The scholarship program has been a key part of our mission to improve the skills of ‘in-country’ health workers, allowing our partners to lead the way in improving access to palliative care in their home countries.

One of these new scholars is Vicky Jemimah, a long-standing volunteer with PcERC, our partner organisation in Uganda. Vicky will be undertaking a Degree in Social Work at Victoria University, Kampala.

Vicky wrote to the Cairdeas, expressing her appreciation for the scholarship, telling us about her plans to improve the lives of her patients through this degree, and introducing herself to our supporters.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the scholarship you've provided me to pursue my degree in Social Work and Social Administration. Your generosity has made a significant impact on my life, and I'm deeply thankful for your investment in my future.

I'm Vicky Jemimah, a dedicated social worker currently working as a volunteer social worker with the Palliative Care Education and Research Consortium unit in Mulago hospital since 2018. I got to join this wonderful team through my mum, who was a link nurse working under Mulago hospital, and I can gladly say it’s one of the most beautiful journeys I have experienced.

I am passionate about empowering vulnerable populations and advocating for those in need. I care for patients and their carers/families by providing physical and spiritual support and counselling them during difficult times.  My aim with this degree is to enhance my skills and knowledge in social work, ultimately improving the lives of patients and families I serve. I'm committed to applying the knowledge and skills gained from this program to provide more effective support and services to my patients, particularly in areas such as patient advocacy, counselling, and community resource coordination.

Vicky’s words are backed by her recommendation from Elizabeth Nabirye, the clinical lead of PcERC, who described Vicky as holding “an unwavering commitment to social justice and community development” and praised her work in research, advocacy and counselling, which “reflects a genuine dedication to improving lives and strengthening communities.”

Vicky continues, speaking on the impact of the scholarship to her, 

This scholarship comes at a pivotal moment in my life, bringing hope and renewed purpose after a challenging period of separation from my husband and marriage with our 2 lovely boys. The support of Cairdeas has not only alleviated financial burdens but also restored my faith in my abilities and future prospects. I'm grateful for the opportunity to focus on my studies, develop expertise in healthcare social work, and advance my career.

To the members and supporters of Cairdeas, thank you for believing in me and supporting my education. Your kindness and generosity will empower me to create a brighter future for myself and those I care about. Your contribution will have a direct impact on the lives of those I serve, and I'm grateful for your trust in me.

We would like to reiterate Vicky’s thanks to the Cairdeas supporters. Your donations allow us to run projects like the scholarship programme, making a difference to lives on the ground and further advancing the development of palliative care leadership in our partner countries. We wish Vicky the very best as she begins her studies and can’t wait to see her development as she progresses through the course.

Representatives from Cairdeas travelled to Helsinki earlier this year to attend the 19^th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care. Dr Mhoira Leng, Dr Chitra Venkateswaran and Dr KV Ganpathy represented the UK and India branches of Cairdeas, presenting posters and giving presentations across various areas of work.

This is a major event in the global palliative care calendar with 1759 participants from 75 countries coming together. There were 776 abstracts, 280 speakers and 625 e-posters. The city hosted us with a glimpse into the rich culture and heritage of Finland.

The areas of research and findings presented by the team were:

• Integrating Mental Health Care with Palliative Care in the Community in Kerala for Chronic Mental Illness

• An Assessment of Distress in a Chronic Illness Population Living in a Community Setting Affected by Fragility, Conflict and Vulnerability

• Developing and Implementing a Compassionate Leadership Fellowship Program in India for Low and Middle Income Countries

• Participatory Action Research: The Use of Photovoice in a Fragile, Conflict Affected and Marginalized Community Setting

It’s a huge honour to present these areas of work from India and Uganda and to listen and interact with others; building understanding and collaboration. We recognise the hard work and dedication and thank all those who have contributed  to carry out and compile research findings

Dr Chitra reported that the conference was of great benefit to her and her work:

“I was able to learn from a number of posters, which brought learning and ideas on research on diverse topics in palliative care. I was also able to meet many experts and seniors in palliative care. There were many innovative themes and formats in the conference which we could adapt to our settings…such support to professionals from low-middle [income] countries provide great opportunities to witness and carry home important insights to adapt and deliver from such global events.”

Dr Mhoira had the immense privilege to present a plenary on behalf of Dr Nahla Gafer, who was not able to travel due to her own displaced status from Sudan; especially disappointing given the topic. ‘Caring for refugees and migrants: what is the role of palliative care?’ See the plenary presentation here

‘We set the scene showing that 117 million people are forcibly displaced; more than at any time in history. Many are displaced by conflict, though climate change is a major factor in forced migration. One of the most significant and concerning aspects of conflict settings is the increasing direct attacks on health and healthcare. 14 countries report such events this year alone (https://extranet.who.int/ssa) and countries such as Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan and of course Gaza report the devastation this causes. A recent report ‘In the Line of Fire’ contains important global information and a call to action. 

We told of one palliative care nurse in Sudan who was taken from her home at gunpoint to treat injured militia and at great danger to her life. We told of the 3.5% of Gaza’s health workforce who have been killed or taken into detention with almost complete destruction of the health facilities. This includes access to pain control, so essential for palliative care. 

We share poignant stories from our palliative care colleagues in Sudan, where colleagues are using virtual means to offer staff-patient support through the Sunshine During War project led by Dr Nahla Gafer. Find out more about Sunshine During War here.

We called for a commitment to humanity, and for the global healthcare community to stand in solidarity with their colleagues, who every day are trying to care for their patients amidst violence, destruction, starvation and direct attacks. We appealed for international law to be upheld without discrimination.  The rousing applause was heartening and powerful with many conversations afterwards showing the depth of concern and compassion.

Dr Ganpathy also shared his reflections on the conference, in particular how it helped him to see where colleagues in similar contexts worked creatively to care for their patients;

‘Attending EAPC (European Association for Palliative Care) conference is crucial for professionals in the field as they offer opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development.

EAPC 2025 held at Helsinki from May 29-31 in particular was designed with enriching sessions both medical and psychosocial. The congress served as a global forum for interdisciplinary education, research, and professional exchange. Coming from a Low and middle income country(LMIC) I could understand how some of the facilities from other LMIC’s are creatively meeting the demands of patient care. The conference showcased the latest research findings, practice-changing science, and emerging trends in palliative care.

The events saw  a convergence of  physicians, nurses, researchers, allied health professionals, and volunteers, Creating a  unique platform for attendees to connect with &, build relationships, and foster collaborations.

The Q&A session after every presentation was one of the engaging aspect of the conference. A dedicated session and a plenary on children's palliative care, had me reflecting on our own practices back home.

In essence, attending EAPC conferences is an investment in professional growth, knowledge advancement, and the overall development of palliative care.”

We are thankful for the opportunities to travel and represent Cairdeas at these important global forums. Thank you to all of our supporters who help to fund this work, and deliver the message of compassion and humanity to colleagues around the world.