World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2017
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world will be celebrated on Saturday 14th October. The theme is Universal Health Coverage and Palliative Care – Don't leave those suffering behind.
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An estimated 2 million children in Bangladesh need palliative care yet less than 1% of these children access it currently (ICPCN) as there are few children’s palliative care services and healthcare professionals trained in palliative care. The Children’s Palliative Care Initiative in Bangladesh (CPCIB) is working to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and their families in Bangladesh.
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Dr Megan Doherty, a consultant in paediatric palliative care and project lead for CPCIB, is an advocate for the importance of accessibility to palliative care for all children.
“It’s unfair. It shouldn’t be this way. Families and children are left alone without any support as they cope with cancer.”
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Paediatric palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for children and their families. This involves treating symptoms such as pain but also ensures families have the support they need to make decisions about their child’s illness.
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There is a lack of understanding among healthcare professionals of the importance of palliative care and poor availability of morphine for pain relief. Although a safe form of pain management, many doctors and families still believe that morphine is highly addictive and will not use it to relieve pain.
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You can take part in World Hospice and Palliative Care Day this Saturday by raising awareness of the importance of palliative care so that every child receives the best possible treatment and care and we do not leave those suffering behind. Find out what you can do here www.thewhpca.org/about