The comfort of care to lighten the burden

Since 2007 the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) has supported the integration of palliative care into Namibia's health care system through a variety of activities including advocacy and awareness as well as the training of community based organisations. APCA’s country manager for Namibia, Ms. Hertha Kadhikwa, says due to limited access to anti-retrovirals (ARVs) in the past, most people living with HIV/AIDS and their families were faced with the burden of bedridden conditions and imminent death. “The involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS and their family is essential in ensuring that quality and comprehensive care and support is delivered.”To enhance palliative care understanding amongst support group members, group leaders were trained in palliative care. Due to their skills and knowledge on HIV and Positive Health Prevention and Dignity (PHDP) support, group leaders are also used by other partners as community based facilitators.APCA also facilitated the integration of palliative care modules into the pre-service training curriculum for the School of Nursing and Public Health and Social Work Section at the University of Namibia. Palliative care was also integrated into the Integrated Management of Adults & Adolescents Illnesses (IMAI) programme at the National Training Center of the Ministry of Health. In 2009 a USAID mid-term review on palliative care services in Namibia cited pain management and control among other issues as a critical gap in palliative care provision. This led to the review of Namibia Essential medicines list and purchase of morphine. “Due to prescription procedures and regulations limited to medical doctors, access to opioids - especially morphine - remains a challenge and most people still suffer from moderate to severe untreated pain.”Even though some registered nurses are allowed to prescribe morphine at the rural clinics, morphine phobia is still a stumbling block. According to Kadhikwa a lot is still to be done in training health care professionals in addressing the myths on the usage of morphine and other opioids. Palliative care services delivery is now part of the Ministry's 5 year strategic plan, while a palliative care desk has been established under the Primary Health Directorate. “Health care professionals have realised the importance of palliative care integration at the time of diagnosis.”According to Kadhikwa most people, including health care providers, still define palliative care as end of life care which is mostly linked to HIV AND Cancer. “Palliative care services is one of the weakest links in our health sector and strengthening this will result in a comprehensive and patient-oriented responsive health care delivery system to eventually reduce hospitalisation costs, reduce the burden on nursing and medical staff and increase families' and communities' involvement in care and support for their ill family members.”For more information on the African Palliative Care Association, contact Hertha at 081 405 2919 or e-mail hertha.kadhikwa@africanpalliativecare.org.

The comfort of care to lighten the burden

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Republikein 2025-09-18

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The comfort of care to lighten the burden

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