Introduction

PACAM is a membership non-governmental organization formed in 2005 mandated to provide support and care for people with life-threatening conditions that cannot be cured. The support and care includes pain relief, spiritual and psycho-social support as well as physical care. Further, PACAM’s vision is a Malawi where all people with life limiting illness are free from pain and distress. Governance of PACAM is guided by the 2015 constitution and in view of this, article 10 of the constitution provides for conducting of Annual General Assembly comprised of all the paid members of the Association. The AGM took place on 29^thNovember 2019 at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe. This serves a report for the AGM.

Read more: PACAM Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2019

PACAM Donates COVID Supplies Worth MK 25 Million to MOH 

SPEECH FOR HANDOVER OF COVID 19 PPE TO MOH.
PALLIATIVE CARE ASSOCIATION OF MALAWI DONATION OF COVID 19 PPEs TO THE MINISTRY OF
HEALTH TO STRENGTHEN DELIVERY OF PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES IN MALAWI.
21ST JULY 2020. MOH CONFERERENCE HALL.

Read more: PACAM COVID response – Resource Mobilization

2019 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Commemoration Report

Download the report here

Introduction

Palliative care is a family centered approach to provision of holistic care to both adults and children living with serious and life limiting illnesses such as: Cancer, chronic liver failure; drug –resistant tuberculosis and other chronic conditions. The main focus of care is relieving pain; preventing suffering and supporting the best possible quality of life and dignified death. The World Health Organization estimate that one percent of the total population, need palliative care. In Malawi; 175,000 people need palliative care according to Cumulatively 58 percent of the target population have been reached across the 94 palliative care sites available at all levels of care. In Malawi the event was commemorated on 11th November 2019 at Mwanza Community ground in Mwanza District.

Read more: 2019 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Commemoration Report

In Malawi faith based health facilities introduced cost sharing fee for health services as a result most palliative care patients do not afford the charges. Faith based health facilities are mostly located in rural areas where most palliative care patients live (85% of Malawian population live in rural area). All Government health facilities offer free health services including Medicine.

Read more: Increasing Patients Access to Free Essential Palliative Care Medicine for Poor Palliative Care...

In 2018, the palliative Care Association of Malawi (PACAM) procured 100 bicycles and distributed to 7 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in 4 districts in central and Northern region of Malawi where the STEP UP project is implementing palliative care program. The project is funded by True Colours Trust (TCT) in UK.

Harry and Ida delivering Bicycles to CBOs

Read more: Improving Access to Home Based Palliative Care for Patients in Malawi

In Malawi, The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Palliative Care Association of Malawi (PACAM) joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD); under the Theme: ‘’Universal Health Coverage And Palliative Care - don’t leave those suffering behind’’

The commemoration was done on 17th November 2017 at Nsalula COMMUNITY DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL Ground in Salima District of the central region of Malawi. And was presided over by the deputy chairperson of Salima district council Mrs B. Mbewe.

The event was supported with funding from National AIDS Commission, True colours Trust, Lighthouse Trust and K2 Taso Palliative Care.

Read more: Malawi Joins The World In Celebrating World Hospice And Palliative Care Day

In Malawi, for the first time, palliative care indicators have been integrated into the District Health Information System (DHIS2). While another areas were already in the DHIS2, palliative acre reporting was being done manually.

Thanks to the PACAM STEP UP project which was funded through True Colours Trist since 2011. The Palliative care STEP Project started in 2011 in the Southern region of Malawi for four years. From 2015 to date, the Palliative Care STEP UP Project moved to the central and Northern Regions. However throughout the implementation period, one of the major challenges has been centralized reporting.

Read more: Malawi Ministry Of Health Intergrates Palliative Care Indicators In The District Health...

PACAM in collaboration with Ministry of Health conducted World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 2nd November 2012 at Riverside Hotel in Lilongwe. This was a national event with participants from all the 3 regions of the country. The theme for the year is Palliative Care for the Ageing Population and Malawi organised National prayers.

What problems do you think the ageing population are facing?

The Theme for 2014 WORLD HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE DAY IS WHO CARES? WE DO! And the commemoration was on 24^th October at Ntandire in Lilongwe.Guest of Honour was PS for Health Mr Chris Kang’ombe.

Do you have any comments on the theme?

PACAM, in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Directorate of Nursing organised regional consultative meetings for the North, Centre and South. Participants included District Health Officers, District Nursing Officers, heads of health teaching institutions, heads of CHAM hospitals, central hospitals, directors, Medical council of Malawi, zonal health officers and various others. They were consulted and gave their views, the report shall be coming out soon.

...continuing from previous blog...

Then acting as PACAM board chair – and now its National Coordinator – Thambo and his fellow Malawi delegates realized that the barriers to implementing such a program in Malawi were many. Different stakeholders, such as the Central Medical Stores, the private sector, and the Pharmacy, Medicines, and Poisons Board were not collaborating on the drug’s procurement, supply, and monitoring.

Read more: Advocating for Dignity: PACAM’s Campaign for Liquid Morphine in Malawi - part 2 of 3

For many people in rural Malawi who suffer from AIDS, cancer, or other progressive diseases, palliative care is often the best option for improving their quality of life, according to the Palliative Care Association of Malawi (PACAM).

Read more: Advocating for Dignity: PACAM’s Campaign for Liquid Morphine in Malawi - part 1 of 3