First Adult Palliative Care Ward Opened in Rwanda

Dec 1, 2010

The Kibagabaga Hospital in Rwanda’s Gasabo District recently opened an adult palliative care ward, the first of its kind in the country. In the ward’s first month of operation, hospital staff provided palliative care to dozens of patients suffering from chronic illnesses, including 32 HIV/AIDS patients.

Palliative care is essential, holistic care for chronically ill patients and their families to improve their quality of life by addressing their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.

Some Rwandan health facilities, including 41 facilities supported by IntraHealth International through the USAID-funded HIV/AIDS Clinical Services Program, integrate palliative care such as pain management and bereavement support with other services. Only recently, however, have a few health centers created specific palliative care wards under the hospital’s mentorship.

The new ward followed on the Kibagabaga Hospital’s efforts to launch a pediatric HIV-related palliative care center last year—also the first in the country. Since the center’s opening, the number of children receiving palliative care at the hospital increased 148%—from 45 to 176 children.

Under the leadership and coordination of Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, this initiative involved training hospital staff to offer palliative care and supportive supervision and forming multidisciplinary teams at health facilities to integrate palliative care with other services. The initiative has also involved assisting the Ministry of Health in the development of a national palliative care policy. This work is being led by the Ministry of Health with support from IntraHealth and Mildmay International through the USAID-funded HIV/AIDS Clinical Services Program. Mildmay International is a United Kingdom, faith-based organization with significant experience in HIV/AIDS palliative care throughout East Africa.

IntraHealth International supports the Kibagabaga District Hospital and leads the HIV/AIDS Clinical Services Program in the Gasabo, Gicumbi, Nyagatare and Rulindo districts. The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development.