Palliative care remains invisible because information never reaches those who need it
Across Africa, policymakers don't know palliative care is a right. Health workers don't know how to deliver it. Patients don't know it exists. Through our 2020-2030 Strategic Plan, APCA is systematically closing these information gaps to ensure access to palliative and comprehensive chronic care for all.
Inadequate Knowledge Levels Block Access Across All Systems
Despite years of advocacy, poor awareness of palliative care persists across all stakeholder groups. The Strategic Plan identifies four critical deficiencies preventing access to care at every level.
Governments Don't Know It's Required
Only 8 African countries have standalone palliative care policies. Ministries of Health lack awareness that palliative care is mandated by WHA Resolution 67.19 and essential for Universal Health Coverage.
Health Workers Lack Competencies
Most pre-service medical and nursing curricula exclude palliative care. Clinicians don't know how to assess serious health-related suffering, communicate prognoses, or access controlled medicines.
Communities Misunderstand the Service
Palliative care is widely viewed as "giving up" or "only for dying patients." Families don't know services exist, preventing early referral.
Integration Knowledge is Missing
Health system leaders don't know how to integrate palliative care into primary health care, HIV programs, or cancer services.
Awareness as the Catalyst: How Objective One Drives All Four Strategic Priorities
APCA's 2020-2030 Strategic Plan operates through four interconnected objectives. Awareness creation (Objective One) is the foundation that activates health systems integration, evidence generation, and sustainability. Without knowledge, the other three objectives cannot achieve impact.
01. Awareness
The entry point. Knowledge creation transforms perceptions among policymakers, health workers, and communities.
02. Health Systems
Awareness drives demand for policy integration, curriculum reform, and essential medicine access.
→03. Evidence
Research questions emerge from awareness gaps. APCRN generates African data to refute myths and guide implementation.
→04. Sustainability
Informed stakeholders become advocates for increased domestic financing and government involvement and collaboration.
The Synergy Effect
Awareness creates the enabling environment for health systems strengthening by convincing Ministers of Health and their counterparts in Finance, Labour, Gender to prioritize palliative care in national budgets. It stimulates research by identifying critical knowledge gaps. It builds sustainability by transforming passive recipients into active advocates who demand services. This is why IEC (Information, Education, Communication) is not merely a communications function—it is the primary driver of systems change.
Tailored Information for Every Stakeholder
Increasing knowledge requires understanding what each audience needs to know to take action. Our Strategic Plan targets seven key stakeholder groups with customized messaging and interventions.
Government & Policymakers
- Evidence that palliative care is cost-effective and essential for UHC
- WHA Resolution 67.19 implementation guidance
- Policy frameworks and legal/regulatory templates
- Data on serious health-related suffering burden
Health Workers & Educators
- Pre-service curriculum integration guidelines
- Pain assessment and opioid prescribing competencies
- Communication and psychosocial support skills
- Recognition of palliative care as a medical specialty
Patients & Families
- Understanding palliative care starts at diagnosis, not death
- Knowledge of rights to pain relief and symptom control
- Navigation of available services in local contexts
- Home-based care guidance for family caregivers
APCA Members & CSOs
- Advocacy toolkits and strategic messaging guides
- Best practices and APCA Standards for Quality Care
- Networking platforms and coordination mechanisms
- Capacity building and technical assistance resources
Development Partners
- Evidence of impact and return on investment
- Alignment with SDG 3 and UHC 2030 frameworks
- Accountability reports demonstrating stewardship
- Co-investment opportunities for sustainability
Media & Public
- Human interest stories that dignify patients
- Data-driven narratives on the access crisis
- Expert sources for health reporting
- Clarification of palliative care vs. euthanasia myths
Private Sector & Industry
- Corporate social responsibility opportunities
- Partnership models for medicine access programs
- Workplace palliative care policies
- Supply chain support for essential medicines
How Research Evidence Informs Policy and Practice
Objective Three (Evidence) feeds directly back into Objective One (Awareness) through strategic knowledge translation. The African Palliative Care Research Network (APCRN) ensures that research doesn't remain in academic journals but actively shapes policy decisions, clinical guidelines, and public understanding across the continent.
The Evidence-to-Action Pipeline
APCA has contributed to 220+ peer-reviewed publications that provide the scientific foundation for advocacy. However, evidence alone doesn't create change—it requires deliberate translation into accessible formats for different audiences.
- Evidence Synthesis: Systematic reviews and APCA Atlas data aggregated into policy briefs
- Knowledge Products: Guidelines, decision aids, and tools adapted for African contexts
- Dissemination Platforms: Triennial conferences, webinars, and virtual research workshops reaching 400+ APCRN members
- Policy Engagement: Direct briefings to Ministers of Health using cost-effectiveness data
The Evidence Gap Map (EGM)
APCA is developing an interactive Evidence Gap Map—a searchable repository of palliative care research coded by WHO building blocks. This tool allows policymakers to access existing evidence for decision-making.
Research Impact Flow
Generate African Evidence
APCRN conducts context-specific research on cost-effectiveness, outcomes, and cultural adaptation
Synthesize for Accessibility
Complex findings translated into policy briefs, guidelines, and IEC materials
Disseminate Strategically
Targeted sharing via conferences, ministerial sessions, and digital platforms
Inform Policy & Practice
Evidence adopted into national plans, medicine lists, and clinical standards
How We Deliver Information at Scale
Awareness creation requires strategic sequencing and multi-channel delivery. Our approach leverages digital platforms, partnerships, and survivor engagement to maximize reach while minimizing costs.
Digital Delivery
Virtual conferences and webinars minimize costs while expanding reach across 46 countries
High-Level Convening
Ministers of Health sessions every three years accelerate national policy development
Survivor Voices
People with lived experience bring authentic advocacy to policy tables
Champions Network
Country-level ambassadors create sustainable advocacy capacity
Knowledge is the First Step to Dignity
When policymakers know palliative care is a right, they fund it. When health workers know how to deliver it, patients suffer less. When communities know it exists, they demand access. Join APCA in elevating knowledge levels across Africa by 2030.