2013; Volume 14, No 10, October

Message from the Chair and Executive Director

Dear readers:

This month we have several important announcements to make:

Members’ Month: October is Members’ Month and we are celebrating the support we receive from individuals and institutions around the world by giving away prizes in two categories: One to recognize loyalty among those current members who have kept their membership active for at least two consecutive years and one to those who bring and invite others to join. As we announced in our previous edition and through our list of subscribers, this month we will be giving a mini iPad in each category. To read more about how the prizes will be awarded, see the announcement included in this newsletter.

We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and keep supporting IAHPC and our mission to promote and advance palliative care globally.

World Hospice Palliative Care Day: Saturday October 12th is the World Hospice Palliative Care Day, a great initiative campaign coordinated by the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA). The theme of this year’s World Day is: “Achieving Universal Coverage of Palliative Care: Dispelling the Myths”. This year the World Day should serve to look at where we are in relation to universal coverage of palliative care and some of the myths that are preventing more rapid progress. As we write this newsletter, many organizations throughout the world are planning celebrations to increase awareness among the civil society, governments and patients that palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and families and that appropriate policies and funding mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure access to palliative care to those in need. More information about the World Day, the initiatives taking place around the world, photos and resources is available in the world day website at http://www.worldday.org/

Traveling Scholarship Awards: This past month we gave several grants under the Traveling Scholarship program to the individuals listed in this newsletter. However we wish to highlight that the following individuals were given scholarships to attend the 10th Conference of the Asia Hospice Palliative Care Network in Bangkok, Thailand on October 11-13:

Congratulations to the grantees for their selection – we hope that their trips will help advance palliative care and have the impact they are aiming for. We look forward to their reports after their return. More information about the congress is available in http://aphc2013.com/

Recognition of IAHPC board members: Dr. Eduardo Bruera and Dr. Kathleen Foley, both long time board members, have been recognized among the top 30 palliative care visionaries by the members of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Both Eduardo and Kathy served as Chairs of IAHPC and continue to support the organization in many ways. We congratulate both for this very deserved recognition. More information about this recognition and the names of the others who were also recognized can be found in http://www.aahpm.org/about/default/visionaries.html

Donations to IAHPC: Many thanks to our generous donors who make these programs happen and enable us to continue to help the development of palliative care worldwide. Donations enable us to continue supporting extraordinary efforts by individuals in developing countries who are working very hard to promote and develop hospice and palliative care around the globe. A big piece of our support comes from public donations and we have started our annual fundraising campaign. Several of you will receive an email notice – please consider donating and supporting the work we do. For additional information on how to help us, please go to https://iahpc.org/donate/

Until next month,

Roberto Wenk, MD
Chair, Board of Directors

Liliana De Lima, MHA
Executive Director

News Index Next Page