Palliative care

The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) and different organisations from around the world will issue today a Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment calling for the recognition of Palliative Care and Pain Treatment as Human Rights.

Closing date: 20 January 2008

SA Partners seeks an executive director to manage the implementation and development of the Ibhayi Living Centre.

The Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund (NMCF) has, through the Goelama Programme since 2002, funded non-governmental organisations to support orphans and vulnerable children. The focus has been on strengthening households and support systems for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), promoting behaviour change to prevent further spread of HIV, and enhancing integration with local government services. Based on the fact that many children, including orphans, are dying of AIDS, without appropriate palliative care, an expansion of the NMCF Goelama approach is being developed. This is a collaboration between the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund, the NMCF and the Hospice Association of South Africa.

Agonising death from terminal illness is an unnecessary tragedy these days. While death is inevitable, the pain can be relieved with easily accessible medication -- but not for those who are dying beyond the reach of doctors or professional nurses.

A United States government fund is to give R35 million over the next five years for Aids care in South African hospices, it was announced today.

The concept of an essential drugs list is a cornerstone of the National Drug Policy and an essential step in the transformation of the health care delivery system in South Africa. The process of compiling treatment guidelines and essential drugs lists is ongoing, and frequent updates will be necessary, involving, inter alia, indigenous research groups and the regulatory authoritys advice, certified good manufacturing practice and quality assurance. The document presented is thus the beginning of a continuous process.