MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello to all. This month we highlight three important issues:
1. Side event – World Health Assembly: This past May 23, a very important event took place during the World Health Assembly in Geneva: A side event called Reducing the Burden of Pain and Suffering was organized by The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation of the Republic of Kenya, the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Panama, in cooperation with Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Human Rights Watch, International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, Open Society Foundations, Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences, Union for International Cancer Control, World Medical Association, and Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance.
The side event covered different topics related to the development of Palliative Care in low and middle Income countries. More than 100 delegates from different countries attended and listened to the presentations by Hon. Dr. Beth Mugo, Minister of Public Health and Sanitation of the Republic of Kenya; Hon. Dr. Christine Ondoa, Minister of Health of the Republic of Uganda; Dr. Cecil Wilson, president elect of the World Medical Association; and leading experts on palliative care. The session was moderated by Amb. Jimmy Kolker, Principal Deputy Director of the Global Health Office, United States Department of Health and Human Services.
We are very grateful with the Open Society Foundations for funding this event and with Mr Diederik Lohman for his help coordinating and ensuring that this event was a success. Many delegates were extremely supportive and expressed interest in supporting palliative care development in their countries. We are sure that the results of the side event will be very positive and we are happy that we were able to support it along with all the other palliative care organizations.
2. Friends of IAHPC campaign: A group of volunteers and members has created a website called Friends of IAHPC intended to increase awareness and help promote hospice and palliative care worldwide. Their goal is to keep people informed on how palliative care can make a difference on the quality of life of patients, families and caregivers. A series of announcements have been sent out. We ask you to share and help spread the message of this campaign. The campaign has a website at www.friendsofiahpc.org
3. Traveling scholarships: We recently announced a call for applications for the 19th International Congress in Montreal, Canada, October 9-12, 2012. IAHPC will provide 10 (ten) scholarships, from the IAHPC Traveling Scholarship Program, to help support the travel of palliative care workers in developing countries. This edition of the newsletter includes the announcement and instructions on how to apply.
Best wishes to all and until next month,
Regards,
Roberto Wenk, MD
Chair
Liliana De Lima, MHA
Executive Director
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