Send Pain Relief to 40 remote districts in Uganda.

Last quarter we conducted support supervision at Nsiika H/C IV in Buhweju district to enhance pain relief in the district. Buhweju District is in the Ankole sub-region, part of the Western Rift Valley escarpment, and is characterized by a rugged, mountainous terrain with steep hills and deep valleys. The district's remote location and challenging topography limit service provision and according to the district plan III 2020/21 – 2024/25, there is a high staff turnover, especially for health workers. To address these issues, the district plan includes building the capacity of staff through mentoring, training, and retooling and providing the Uganda National Minimum Health Care to enhance service delivery. However, resource constraints leave aspects, such as palliative care, underserved. PCAU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, visited the facility and identified challenges related to stock outs of oral liquid morphine for patients experiencing moderate to severe pain. As the World Health Organization's gold-standard recommendation for pain management, this essential medication is provided free by the government following a comprehensive assessment by palliative care trained healthcare workers. The team engaged hospital and district leadership in discussions advocating for the establishment of a dedicated palliative care unit, the appointment of a focal person, and a commitment to provide ongoing support. Additionally, selected healthcare providers received mentorship on ordering, storage, and prescription processes to ensure a consistent supply and accessibility for patients in need. They were also reoriented on pain assessment, management, and the use of palliative care data tools, including the HMIS 008 register, to enhance data collection for informed decision-making. . Although we have engaged districts to enhance access to pain relief for patients with cancer and other serious health-related suffering, the challenge of transporting teams to conduct training, mentorship, and support supervision in the 39 districts lacking palliative care services remains unmet. Thank you for your generosity, with your support we were able to go through the terrain and the rough roads. Support us to reach out to more districts by donating.