ecancermedicalscience

Conference Report

Scaling up availability, accessibility, quality and equity – highlights from the 4th Uganda conference on cancer and palliative care, held in Kampala, Uganda

13 Nov 2023
Julia Downing, Nixon Niyonzima, Eddie Mwebesa, Lisa Christine Irumba, Judith Asasira, Bernadette Basemera, Diana Basirika, Alfred Jatho, Immaculate Mbarusha, Harriet Nalubega, Dorothy Olet Adong, Deirdre Ryan, Danait Tesfai, Cynthia Kabagambe, Joyce Zalwango, Catherine Amuge, Cissy Nassolo, Edward Kakungulu, Jackson Orem, Mark Mwesiga

The 4th Uganda Conference on Cancer and Palliative Care was held from the 14th–15th September 2023. It was run jointly by the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Palliative Care Association of Uganda, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The conference was held at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo and 450 participants came together for a face-to-face conference following the virtual one held in 2021. It was an opportunity for all those working in the fields of cancer and palliative care to come together, to share lessons and learn from each other, as well as celebrate 30 years since specialist palliative care came to Uganda. The conference was officially opened by the Commissioner for Non-Communicable Diseases on behalf of the Minister of Health, who reiterated the Government’s commitment to reducing the burden of cancer and expanding the provision of palliative care within Uganda. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebresus, the Director General of the World Health Organization welcomed participants to the conference, and the Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, the Right Reverend Hannington Mutebi shared his experience of living with cancer. The conference was organised into six tracks: Innovations and new technologies; Education, advocacy, policy and law; Health promotion, prevention and early detection; Family and community involvement and empowerment; Clinical care and symptom management; and, Psychological, social and spiritual care. The themes of paediatrics, vulnerable populations, service development and research were integrated throughout the tracks, and workshops were held that explored topics such as governance, access to essential medicines, national data reporting, research and education, and aging and ageism. Throughout the conference there was a sense of optimism, of resilience and a commitment to the ongoing development of cancer and palliative care services within the country.

Related Articles

Chase Peng Yun Ng, Asmita Raja, Alicia Hunter, Sai Kalpitha Eragamreddy, Grace Tan, Shahin Sayed, Looi Lai-Meng, Leke Folaranmi, Beatriz Hornburg, Meritxell Mallafre-Larrosa, Julie Torode, Ajay Aggarwal, Kenneth Fleming, Richard Sullivan
Elizabeth Hatzaw, Jane Ralte, Vignesh Krishnasamy, Lalengkimi Ralte, Rajendra Bose Muthukumaran, Kasi Marimuthu, Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar
Hannya Aline Barrón Alcántara, María Silvia Cruz Rodríguez, Sofia Valeria Huerta Rivas, Luz Eugenia Alcántara Quintana
Ryan R. Lion, Glenn Mbah, Nathalie De Sousa Santos, Anne Gagnepain-Lacheteau, Karim Assani, Aissata Barry, Viviane Bissyande, Chantal Bouda, Aleine Budiongo, Isaac Bahati Chuma, Line Couitchéré, Fatou Binetou Diagne Akondé, Mame Ndella Diouf, Aimée Kissou, Robert Lukamba Mbuli, Boubacar Togo, Kan Paulin Yao, Yao Atteby Jean Jacques, Lea Zaho, Ekhtelbenina Zein, Isatou Bah Madison, Laila Hessissen
Victor Acosta Marín, Fernando Petracci, Denis U Landaverde, William Mantilla, Cynthia Villarreal, Guianeya Santander, Agatha Reyes, Joel Moreno, Ahmad Wali Mushtaq, Brizio Moreno, Juan Carlos Samamé