On October the 10th, the world commemorates World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) under the theme; "Discovering your voice". The theme seeks to provide an opportunity for people living with chronic illnesses, their families and carers to speak out about hospice and palliative care and what it means to them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as an approach that improves quality of life for patients and families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.

The advent of HIV has led to an increase in the number of people requiring such care and consequently, also to a greater number of people involved in providing care for sick family members, relatives and friends under the home-based care model.

Key issues that the media can address

• World Hospice and Palliative Care Day aims to increase the availability of hospice and palliative care throughout the world by creating opportunities to speak out about hospice and palliative care. The media can create platforms for people who are providing home-based care- to speak out about their successes and challenges. In this way the media can influence healthcare funders and policy makers to cater better for the needs of both those in need of palliative care and those providing it.

• Everyone living with a life-limiting illness has the right to high quality hospice and palliative care to enable them to live with dignity and without undue pain or distress. Despite this, millions of people with chronic illnesses around the world experience unnecessary pain and distress, either unaware of, or unable to access the care they need[1]. It is the media’s role to inform and educate people about their rights, where they are enshrined, and how best people can claim such rights. People who are unable to access necessary care should be given the opportunity to have their voices heard during this time. The media needs to share their stories with the rest of the world so that for once, they are listened to.

Contrary to what others think, hospice and palliative care is not just for the elderly. People of all ages are affected by disease in one way or another. Children with chronic conditions have very specific palliative care needs that differ from those of adults. The media needs to advocate for the provision of the various critical services needed for people’s well being.  An estimated 2.3 million children are living with HIV in Africa and there are also many children who are caring for the sick; the media can advocate for the provision of preventive clothing for care-givers so that they can avoid being infected with diseases while caring for their sick family members.

• WHPCD provides an opportunity for the media to raise awareness about this day and what it means to different people. The media can also highlight the different needs, medical, social, practical and spiritual, of people living with HIV and other life limiting conditions.

Sources

1. http://dying.about.com/od/whatispalliativecare/a/whatisPC.htm     accessed on 14 September 2009

2. http://www.kubatana.net/html/archive/health/081007hospaz.asp?sector=COUNS&year=0&range_start=1  accessed on 14 September 2009

3. http://www.teampata.org/learn_background.asp

4. http://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/    accessed on14 September 2009

5. http://www.worldday.org/pr-press/