Palliative Care Situation in French Speaking African Countries: Example of the Sakoira Integrated Health Center in Republic of Niger (West Africa)

Soumaila Boubacar

doi:10.11648/j.cajph.20170301.12

Abstract

In Niger, palliative care is a necessity in everyday medical practice. However, the setting up of structures and / or mobile teams specifically dedicated to palliative medicine still faces enormous challenges. Most patients who consult for non-communicable disease or specifically for tumors or other incurable illnesses as some neurological diseases come advanced stages, requiring palliative care whereas there is as yet no national structure specifically dedicated to palliative care. No domain of research in palliative care is developed in Niger. No specific scientific work on palliative care have been conducted and published in Niger. This testifies to the lack of promotion of this specialty in Niger. So the ignorance of palliative care, access to morphine and ordinary molecules fight against pain are a real obstacle to the practice of palliative medicine in Sakoira Integrated Health Center (Tillabéri) in republic of Niger.

Highlights

In sub-Saharan Africa, Niger is developing country with a population about 17.807.117 million on an area of 1 276 000 km2 [1] two-thirds are located in area Saharan [2]
To facilitate communication between patient and health workers use a booklet that lists questions that can be asked the doctor by the patient during a consultation supportive care and palliative care showed his interest in facilitating communication [14, 15]. This linguistic difficulty of access to English a big handicap caregivers African French speaking countries because most people do not have access to documents written in English. while palliative care is not developes in these African french speaking countries compared to English-speaking African countries such as Uganda for example
The grant of morphine is one of the major challenges faced in this problem

Summary

Introduction

In sub-Saharan Africa, Niger is developing country with a population about 17.807.117 million on an area of 1 276 000 km2 [1] two-thirds are located in area Saharan [2]. It is located between parallels 11° 37 and 23° 33 of North latitude one hand, and meridians 16° East and 10° 0 of the other West longitude. Sakoira is a rural community of Tillabéri department. It is located 122 km from Niamey (capital of Niger). Health Care at through the development of health districts. This work is an update on the status of research, teaching and services relating of palliative medicine in Sakoira Integrated Health Center (Figure 1) in Niger and literature review

Palliative Care Situation

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion