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.