2020; Volume 21, No 10, October
You, our members, are IAHPC's most important and cherished resource. To celebrate your successes, extend your collective knowledge base, and aid in your networking, we are pleased to introduce "Members' Impact." This ongoing column will list the accomplishments of our members in the field of palliative care.
It will include:
- articles that have been published (in the medical literature),
- research posters that have been disseminated,
- awards that have been earned, and
- successful initiatives (e.g., fundraising programs, procedures that improve self-care and/or patient care, workplace advances, online courses or presentations, etc.).
Tell us what you have achieved, or alert us to the achievement of another IAHPC member, by contacting me, Genevieve Napier, IAHPC Programs Officer.
Members’ Impact
Mercy Wanjiku Wachiuri
Wachuiri MW. How to Integrate Palliative Care Into Primary Health Care. Sociology Study 2020; 10(3): 123-140. DOI: 10.17265/2159-5526/2020.03.002
This article by Mercy Wanjiku Wachiuri of Kenya, who has been a member since 2014, was published in the May/June issue of Sociology Study.
[condensed abstract] Integration of palliative care into primary health care will have a substantial positive impact on health care in Nakuru County, Kenya. Consequently, palliative care should be given to the 60% of the population that suffers from cancers and chronic illnesses; only 20% have access. While palliative care focuses on holistic care (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects), primary health care operates on the principles of equity, solidarity, universal access to services, multisectoral action, social justice, centralization, and community participation. They share similarities, as the latter is based on practical, scientifically sound and socially accepted methods and technology... Universal Health Coverage ensures that all people and communities have access to promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services, of sufficient quality to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the users to financial hardships... Geographical challenges, staff shortages, and lack of palliative care knowledge are the main barriers to provision of care.
Eve Namisago
Boufkhed S, Namisango E, Luyrrika E, Sleeman KE, Costantini M, et al. Preparedness of African Palliative Care Services to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A rapid assessment. J Pain Symptom Manage. Available online September 15, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.09.018
Eve Namisango of Uganda has been a member since 2013.
[condensed abstract] To evaluate the preparedness and capacity of African palliative care services to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we designed a cross-sectional survey emailed to the 166 African Palliative Care Association’s members and partners and performed a descriptive analysis of the 83 responses from 21 countries.
Most services had at least one procedure for the case management of COVID-19 or another infectious disease (63%). Respondents reported concerns over accessing running water, soap and disinfectant products (43%, 42%, and 59% respectively), and security concerns for themselves or their staff (52%). Two in five services (41%) did not have any or make available additional Personal Protective Equipment. Most services (80%) reported having the capacity to use technology instead of face-to-face appointment, and half (52%) reported having palliative care protocols for symptom management and psychological support that could be shared with non-specialist staff in other health care settings.
Our survey suggests that African palliative care services could support the wider health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with greater resources such as basic infection control materials. It identified specific and systemic weaknesses impeding their preparedness to respond to outbreaks. The findings call for urgent measures to ensure staff and patient safety.
Members who participated
in this month’s newsletter
The IAHPC leadership would like to thank the many members who participated in stories and columns in this month’s newsletter.
Policy & Advocacy
- Zipporah Ali, member since 2009, participated in the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care and the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes.
- Sushma Bhatangar, member since 2011, participated in Opioid Price Watch and the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care.
- Sofia Bunge, member since 2009.
- Abidan Chansa, member since 2019
- Mwate Joseph Chaila, member since 2014, participated in Opioid Price Watch and the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care.
- Rumana Dowla, member since 2009, participated in the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care.
- Farzana Khan, member 2013, participated in the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes.
- Juan Pablo Yaeger Monje, joined in August 2020.
- Lukas Radbruch, member since 2008 and lifetime member as of 2009, joined the IAHPC Board of Directors in 2011.
- Kate Reed-Cox, has been a member since 2017, participated in Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care.
- Dr. Luisa Rodriguez, member since 2017, contributed to the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes.
- Paola Ruiz, member since 2016, participated in the pilot program for the Global Palliative Care Database.
Guest Advocacy Column
Ebtesam Ahmed, member since 2014, joined the IAHPC Board of Directors in 2019 and participated in the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes.
COVID-19 Survey: Patient Care
- Julia Ambler, member since 2012.
- Armando Arita, postgraduate member from the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria since 2019.
- Simone Cernesi, member since 2017. He also participated in the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care, the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes, and the pilot program for the Global Palliative Care Database.
- Farah Demachkieh, a delegate of SANAD — The Home Hospice Organization of Lebanon, has been a member since 2010.
- Madeleine Juhrmann, postgraduate from the University of Sydney, joined this year.
- Laura Morrison, joined in 2010 as a lifetime member.
- Noel Pingoy, member since 2010.
- Ruth Powys, member since 2013.
- Vibha S.P., a delegate of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, has been a lifetime member since 2018.
- Agnes Tererai, member since 2016, participated in the Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care.
- Babita Varkey, joined in 2020.
Featured Story
Eve Namisango, member since 2013, joined the IAHPC board in 2019, and participated in the Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes.
Links to IAHPC programs mentioned above: Consensus-Based Definition of Palliative Care, Global Palliative Care and COVID-19 Briefing Notes, Global Palliative Care Database, and Opioid Price Watch
Thank you to all our members. We are a stronger association because of your dedication and support.
New and Renewing Members' List
Individuals who joined, or renewed their membership with, IAHPC during the past month as a list and also a pie chart to show you the current geographic spread.
Membership renewals
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| Irena Laska | Albania |
| Danilo Fritzler | Argentina |
| Roberto Wenk | Argentina |
| Helen-Anne Manion | Australia |
| Marianne Phillips | Australia |
| Patricia Cury | Brazil |
| Sandra Dolores Becker | Brazil |
| Near North Palliative Care Network | Canada |
| Augusto Rolle | Chile |
| Nora Saldarriaga | Colombia |
| Alexandra Tatiana Fernandez Davila | Ecuador |
| Tania Pastrana | Germany |
| Silvia Rivas | Guatemala |
| Ornela Sainterant | Haiti |
| Regine Roche | Haiti |
| Anjaneyulu Konda | India |
| Komal Kashyap | India |
| Neha Tripahi | India |
| Shoba Nair | India |
| Stanley C Macaden | India |
| Martyarini Budi Setyawati | Indonesia |
| Simone Cernesi | Italy |
| Mercy Wachiuri | Kenya |
| Phanice Jepkemoi Tom | Kenya |
| Natalia Carafizi | Moldova |
| Ruth Powys | Nepal |
| Eugenia Lopez Romboli | New Zealand |
| Nineth C. Baltodano Algaba | Nicaragua |
| Nisla Camano | Panama |
| Noel P Pingoy | Philippines |
| Chitra Weerakkody | Sri Lanka |
| MKDL Meegoda | Sri Lanka |
| Matthias Brian | Sweden |
| ALINON Kokou Nouwame | Togo |
| John C Ely | United States |
| Ronald Sand | United States |
| Stephen Connor | United States |
New members
| Name | Country |
|---|---|
| Jan McGregor | Australia |
| Linda Foley | Australia |
| Babita P Abraham Varkey | India |
| Eva Paoletti | Italy |
| Carlo Miguel Matanguihan | Philippines |
| Andrii Rokhanskyi | Ukraine |
| Dianne Gray | United States |
| Kamal Abu-Shamsieh | United States |
| Peter David Covert | United States |
| Sorush Niknamian | United States |
See the full list of IAHPC members
