Bringing palliative care closer to communities

At just 33 years old, NI, a mother of six from Lukuli, Makindye, has endured more hardship than most people face in a lifetime. Diagnosed with rectal cancer, she is currently receiving palliative care from Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU).

NI's life has been marked by poverty and adversity from an early age. After her father abandoned the family, financial hardship forced her into difficult circumstances that led to her becoming a mother at just 16 years old. Over the years, unstable relationships and abandonment due to illness have left her to raise six children, aged between four and twelve years, with the support of her elderly mother.

Today, although NI's pain is well controlled through HAU's palliative care services, her condition remains extremely challenging. She has painful wounds caused by her illness that make it impossible for her to sit comfortably, leaving her to spend much of her time lying down or changing positions to manage the discomfort. Despite these challenges, she continues to find strength in her children.

During a recent home visit, our team found NI and her children without food. The family had gone hungry, with the little available food reserved for NI because of the strong medication she takes. The household has fallen behind on three months' rent, and NI still requires further medical investigations. Her greatest worry, however, is not herself but her children.

"They are all I have. They are the reason I keep fighting," NI shared when family members suggested separating her from her children to reduce the financial burden.

Recognising the emotional distress this caused, HAU's social worker intervened, meeting with the family to find a compassionate solution that ensured the children could remain with their mother.

NI's mother, her primary caregiver, is doing everything she can to support the family despite her own financial struggles. She previously earned a living running a small salon, but after being unable to pay rent, she lost the business premises. Today, her salon equipment remains packed away in their single-room home, unused, while she hopes for the opportunity to restart her livelihood.

Education has also become increasingly uncertain for the children. Although one child briefly benefited from the generosity of a well-wisher, the support could not be sustained due to limited resources. Without consistent assistance, the children risk missing out on the quality education every child deserves, further perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality.

For families like NI's, palliative care goes beyond pain relief. It means addressing the physical, emotional, social, and practical challenges that accompany serious illness. While HAU continues to provide medical care, counselling, food support, and home visits, sustainable assistance is urgently needed to help this family regain stability.

Support for basic needs, education, and restoring NI's mother's small business would not only improve the family's immediate circumstances but also provide them with a pathway towards dignity, resilience, and hope.

Your support makes stories like NI's possible. Together, we can ensure that families facing serious illness receive not only compassionate care but also the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and a brighter future.