Almost 20 years ago when Hospice Africa Uganda commenced, there were three in the team and finances available for three months. Hospice Africa has grown since then to 110 team members working in the three branches providing care and training. We now have the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa and are recognised nationally and internationally for our work. Effective caring requires above all, the team members who are deeply in sympathy with the ethos of palliative care and have the knowledge and skills to deliver it.

It is through advocating to the Government of Uganda that Uganda is the first country to make palliative care an essential clinical service for all (under HIV/AIDS), in the Health Sector Strategic Plans 2000 and 2006. Uganda is also the first country to change the statute so Nurses and Clinical Officers with initially a 9 months Certificate (now a Diploma) from Hospice Africa Uganda to prescribe oral morphine.

Over the next five years Hospice Africa Uganda will concentrate its efforts in 4 major areas:

Centre of Leadership and Excellence 

1. Providing access to a comprehensive high quality and self sustaining palliative care service to cancer, HIV/AIDS patients and their families.
2. Ensuring provision of quality education in palliative care through strengthening and developing a range of degree programs, courses, training and consultancy
3. Both working out of a leading edge NGO

Advocacy
Strengthening Palliative Care on the national Agenda

Strategic Partnerships
Developing strong strategic partnerships with key Palliative Care related organisations

Sustainability
Strengthening HAU’s financial infrastructure, human resources, and IT capacity to ensure effective and continuing service provision.

Palliative care is not yet readily available to all who need it and Hospice Africa cannot offer this service alone. HAU therefore is concentrating on strengthening relationships with the MOH and close Palliative Care organisations and well as other stakeholders. It is through the existing and new organizations, HAU will continue to influence policy processes at all levels.

We are here to improve the quality of lives of our patients and their families facing life-threatening illnesses and to ensure the 90% of people in need of palliative care in Uganda who do not get it yet, have access over the coming years so they can live and die in peace from pain and with dignity.

I would like to extend my sincere and heart-felt appreciation to our friends, donors, partners, volunteers, team members who are working tirelessly to support the work we are doing. All you do to support us makes a difference and we continue to strive, with your help to reach all those in need in Uganda and to support development of PC services in other African countries.

Chief Executive Director
Hospice Africa Uganda