A theme issue by, for, and about Africa: Palliative care and antiretroviral treatment can be integrated

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.778-b

BMJ 2005;331:778-779 (1 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7519.778-b

Letter

A theme issue by, for, and about Africa

Palliative care and antiretroviral treatment can be integrated

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—An estimated 80m AIDS related deaths will occurin Africa by 2025.¹ As antiretroviral treatment expands in sub-SaharanAfrica, the World Health Organization advocates its integrationwith palliative care because pain, other distressing symptoms,and complex psychosocial challenges persist throughout the HIVtrajectory.² Palliative care improves outcomes for patientswith HIV³ and in Africa may complement antiretroviral treatmentby increasing adherence through managing side effects, providingpatient and family centred holistic care, and giving end oflife care when necessary.⁴ However, reintegrating what havebecome two distinct disciplines is challenging.⁵

Hospice Africa Uganda was founded to provide affordable controlof pain and symptoms, including oral morphine, and to developa model of palliative care appropriate to Africa. It providesadvocacy and training across Africa, education, and specialistpalliative care in rural and urban settings alongside communityvolunteers and traditional healers; it also has links with clinicsgiving antiretroviral . . . [Full text of this article]

Catherine Senyimba, medical officer, Edmund Mwebesa, medical officer, Siobhan Kennelly, registrar

Hospice Africa, PO Box 7757, Makinde, Kampala, Uganda

Karen Frame, specialist registar

kframe@hospiceafrica.or.ug
Hospice Africa, PO Box 7757, Makinde, Kampala, Uganda

Richard Harding, lecturer

Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College London, London SE5 9RJ