How can we promote accessible and compassionate palliative care in Uganda? 

Through a fundraiser walk? These days, counting each kilometre—or mile or step—can seem like a drudge of numerical exercise. Akin to a sitting room workout, we wonder on the point or reasoning behind so many push-ups every day. 

I have participated in walks and other fundraisers before, but this year’s Journey through Uganda is more than the numbers completed. Actually, the journey is as much as a learning process on palliative care development as it is a reflection and a prayer. 

You may have already started the milestone journey on our website. You’ll find that a cornerstone of the work in Uganda is education: training those who are working in health care and building capacity in our partner’s staff. Three of the Cairdeas scholars live in Uganda, with two advancing in social work while another completes studies in nursing. 

We conducted a new interview with one scholar, Philip Amol Kuol, to hear his experience as a South Sudanese refugee, social worker, translator, and community health advocate. Philip recently told us, “Most of the patients are dying because of lack of good care to them. Because the more they realise that you are almost giving up on them, they feel like they should die … but if you have committed yourself to give good care to the person, the person will feel more that people still love them in the world.” 

He shares more about the dignity and restored life given by access to quality palliative care below.

A recent pilot research conducted in the area where Philip Amol lives brings new perspective to the lived experiences of those with chronic illness. As we look through the Photovoice methods, from pictures taken and critical dialogue recorded, the reflection on Journey through Uganda continues. 

In May, another scholar named Godfrey Oziti from Peace Hospice discussed his passion for palliative care with me. He defined his work as “a kind of care that gives the patient’s life back and is enjoying life again” and added: “I like to transform the patient so they are not just counting down the days.”

To cease the counting down of days to refocus on life again for a patient, I muse, as I think of how I count the kilometres for Journey through Uganda. Both involve numbers, yet I find joy in my counting exercise of this first-ever Cairdeas IPCT walk. 

While I exercise and support the work of Cairdeas’ partners in Uganda, a chronically ill patient has just been treated and cared for with dignity and respect. As we build up the fundraiser more this June, more patients and their families find hope amid severe health-related suffering as trained health care professionals address physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual concerns. 

Our support during the Journey through Uganda funds those like Liz Nabirye, a Clinical Officer and Lead in the Palliative care Education and Research Consortium (PcERC). She not only offers consultations at no-cost to hospitalised patients but also trains dozens of medical students in palliative care. 

I had the honour of attending a training with Liz Nabirye last week. When the question was asked on how to motivate a chronically ill patient to choose a healthy lifestyle and attend counselling, the rest of us were quiet and puzzled. Liz said, “There is a need to understand the circumstances which contribute to this person’s situation and identify what they think as a patient need to achieve. For example, there is need to be patient-centred and holistic in nature, which will definitely require multi-disciplinary support.”

The knowledge, skills, care, and approach being held by our partners Peace Hospice and PcERC have been spreading to their professional colleagues and medical students. Holistic palliative care is more accessible than ever before, and all at Cairdeas IPCT are pleased to be working with those in Uganda.

What an impact and how much value is being created for compassionate palliative care! Join us and register for the Journey through Uganda fundraiser this June.