Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we decided that this year we would hold our annual gathering on line via Zoom. This gave us a great opportunity to welcome some of our partners and supporters, who would otherwise be unable to travel to Scotland, to join us.

 We had an enjoyable afternoon on Saturday 27th June meeting up with each other and learning about what Cairdeas has been up to since we all met last year. Invited speakers were Dr Chitra Venkateswaren from the MEHAC Foundation talking to us about how they are adapting palliative care principles for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in India, Elizabeth Namukwaya updated us on the work of PcERC and MPCU in Uganda. Dr Elizabeth Swain talked about her visit to Gaza and the Palliative care conference for Palestine. Sarah Robinson and Vicki Opia told us about the work of the Peace Hospice in Adjumani district  and Sarah’s visit there last summer.

Dr Mhoira Leng, our Medical Director gave an update on the ongoing work of Cairdeas during this last year and how it has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We also introduced our new Operations director, Ian Robinson, who joined us in May.

For part of the afternoon, we were able to break off into breakout rooms to chat in smaller groups which enabled us to meet some of our partners in person as well as each other.

The afternoon was recorded on video, which you can find in the resources section of the website for anyone who missed the Gathering to catch up, or for anyone who wants to recap on the talks.