Do Just One Thing for Children's Palliative Care

Last year we launched a campaign to ask people around the world to do 'Just One Thing' for children's palliative care. You responded. You generously donated towards the ICPCN's ongoing Education & Training programme and we are most grateful.

Despite a slow start, we have set ourselves a target of US $13,000 for this GlobalGiving Campaign and hope that we can achieve this by the end of the year. We believe strongly that the more health professionals we can reach and train in the principles of children's palliative care, the more children and families get to experience the comfort and support that palliative care provides.

Last month the ICPCN, in partnership with the Lesotho Ministry of Health provided the first ever week-long training of 30 health care professionals in the principles of children's pallaitive care. The training took place in Maseru and was attended by medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, priests, a dietician, an occupatonal therapist and a Traditional Healer. Lesotho has no existing children's palliative care services, despite the identification of a great need based on the incidence of childhood cancers and HIV infection. Further 'Training of Trainers' education will be provided by ICPCN in June this year. 

ICPCN has been asked to provide similar training in Rwanda, Prague and Iran over the coming months. As the only international organisation responding to so many requests for training and the only organisation providing free online training in 8 languages we greatly appreciate any and all assistance we receive to finance the costs of such projects. We are particularly grateful to those of you who have committed to a monthly contribution.

Thank you for your continued support and for being prepared to make a difference in the lives of children you will most likely never meet. 

Yours most sincerely

Sue Boucher

Links:

• Healthcare professionals in Lesotho trained in CPC