Hospice Uganda celebrate 25 years of existence

Hospice Africa Uganda celebrated its silver jubilee on Friday at their home in Makindye and planted a tree to mark the 25 years celebrations.

Hospice Africa Uganda offers palliative care to patients suffering from life limiting illnesses mainly cancer by showing them that there is a better tomorrow even when one is suffering from such chronic illnesses.

Addressing the audience, Dr Eddie Mwebesa the executive director Hospice Uganda, said they offer palliative care to patients to help them regain their smiles by relieving their pain by administering morphine and other pain killers.

Mwebesa said Hospice has a branch in Mbarara and Hoima and that in Kampala, their hospital is at Makindye, so people suffering from life threatening diseases should seek their services.

Speaking via Skype, Ann Merriman the founder of Hospice Africa Uganda, said the government should come in to support the cause.

Hospice Africa Uganda board chairperson Joan Kelly planting a tree during the celebrations at the organisation's head office in Makindye. Photo by Meddie Musisi

Merriman said cancer patients can receive the care for free from Hospice and that they are requesting the government to help them realize £1m to help them run the Hospice successfully.

"We need about £1m to reach out to all patients of life limiting illnesses, including those who are at home and have already lost hope in life," said Merriman.

Hospice Uganda was founded in 1993 at Nsambya Hospital in a two roomed facility and with a group of three nurses offering palliative care services with the purpose of restoring hope of a better life to HIV+ patients and cancer patients and was it was later moved to Makindye.

Its patron is the Nnabagereka of Buganda, Sylvia Nagginda Luswata.

Rose Kiwanuka, the first nurse to work with Hospice in 1993 said they offer palliative care to every Ugandan who needs their services anywhere and that they can call 0392080713 to refer them to a palliative care centre near them.