Bringing palliative care closer to communities

When the Hospice Africa Uganda team first met NI, a 43-year-old mother of six battling advanced rectal cancer, she was in excruciating pain and emotionally distressed. Living in a cramped one-roomed rental in Lukuli, Makindye, NI had returned to her mother’s care after a series of painful life events; early motherhood, abandonment from her spouses, and a terminal diagnosis. Her pain, both physical and emotional, was intense. But thanks to donations raised on the GlobalGiving Platform, our team was able to begin palliative care immediately, managing her pain and helping her regain some strength and comfort.

One of NI’s greatest fears was being separated from her children. During a home visit, the team found her and the children hungry, with NI clinging to hope that they could stay together despite the pressure from her brother to send them away. With support from the comfort fund and food relief provided by the Hospice team, the family found temporary relief.

But even more important was the emotional support and follow-up: our social worker brought NI’s mother in for a counseling session, leading to a family agreement that the children would remain under her mother’s care. NI’s mother, the main caretaker lost her salon business due to unpaid rent, her home rent is also due and she struggles to find food for the children. Yet amidst the hardship, NI remains hopeful. One of her children has been sponsored for school by a family friend, and the Hospice team continues to provide critical emotional and medical care.

Hospice Africa Uganda caters to a wide range of people through outreaches in poverty-stricken areas and slums. Those that cannot move to the outreach center are visited in their homes. This is possible because of donations from kind people including those on the GlobalGiving platform.