Abstract
There has been a substantial increase in cancer detections in Africa over years, and it has also been noted that higher number of individuals are affected by the later stages of cancer that lead to death. When it comes to cancer care, Zimbabwe is no exception with its ongoing palliative care related research, though still in its infancy. The need for advanced and more accessible palliative care to assist the vulnerable has been intensified by this increase in cancer prevalence. Island Hospice, which is a centre of excellence in palliative care has varying elements of the models that it employs to engage those most in need of palliative assistance, especially children and financially-challenged individuals.
Highlights
Island Hospice and Healthcare (Island) provides palliative care services as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) model to all who are referred by clinic, hospital, doctor, or community structures
The WHO defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients and families facing the problem of life-threatening illness
Sub Saharan Africa disproportionately bears the burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the world with 70% of people living with HIV [5]
Summary
Island Hospice and Healthcare (Island) provides palliative care services as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) model to all who are referred by clinic, hospital, doctor, or community structures. The WHO defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients and families facing the problem of life-threatening illness. It is done through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment as well as treatment of pain and other problems such as physical, psycho-social, and spiritual [4]. Through capacity building of community volunteers, health professionals, and palliative care specialists in other countries of the continent, Island has been emerging as a model of care that aims to provide quality care at a scale that counters the palliative care backlog in Africa, having arisen because of increasing prevalence of cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases. Sub Saharan Africa disproportionately bears the burden of HIV/AIDS in the world with 70% of people living with HIV [5]
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