Every 3 years since 2013, African Ministers of Health come together to review progress and strategise on the development of palliative and comprehensive chronic care in their nations at the back of the triennial International African Palliative Care Conferences. These ministers’ sessions have become a valued platform for mutual learning and exchange, where collaborations, partnerships and networks are formed for everyone’s benefit through synergies between countries and sub-regions.
Previous sessions have been well attended by Ministers who bring delegations that include representatives of related line ministries such as Social Development/ Social Welfare, Ministries of Finance, permanent secretaries, heads of Parliamentary Health Committees, and Directors General in ministries, among others.
This year’s theme is “Twenty years of palliative and comprehensive chronic care for sustainable development in Africa”. It recognises the contribution that health in general, and palliative and chronic care strategies and interventions in particular, contribute to the global Sustainable Development Goals, and to national level universal health coverage targets. The theme also underscores access to palliative and comprehensive chronic care as essential components if these health related goals are to be realised for all in Africa.
The 5th Ministers of Health Session will be held on the 23rd of September 2025, followed by the conference on 24-26 September at the same venue in Gaborone, Botswana.
Different countries rotate the role of hosting and chairing the sessions, represented by their Ministers of Health, and in partnership with the African Palliative Care Association and lessons learnt disseminated.
A key output of these sessions is a joint declaration by the Ministries of Health that provides a framework and guides focus and commitment for palliative care leaders and coordinators at national level, as well as setting the agenda for advocacy efforts. The sessions are also used as an opportunity to appraise previous declarations and draw lessons for taking the palliative care agenda forward.
The Kampala Declaration, 2022 Ministers of Health Session on Palliative Care in Africa
The Declaration on Palliative Care in a Pandemic
Following on the previous African Ministers of Health Sessions on Palliative Care and
- whereas in 2013 in Johannesburg South Africa the declaration focused on consensus in the build up to the passing of the World Health Assembly Resolution in May 2014,
- whereas in 2016 in Kampala Uganda the declaration focused on implementation of the nine roles for members states in the 2014 WHA Resolution in addition to improving access to essential medicines and technologies applicable in improving access to palliative care,
- whereas in 2019 in Kigali Rwanda the declaration focused on the essential basic palliative care package for inclusion in Universal Health Coverage plans,
And following the experiences of patients in the COVID-19 pandemic who died in isolation without adequate physical, psychosocial and or spiritual support from their preferred palliative care and end of life care providers; in circumstances such as Intensive Care Units and isolation rooms where the care providers lacked the expertise or skills to provide palliative care, we would like to commit as follows in the 2022 African Ministers of Health Declaration:
- Encourage all African governments through their ministries of health to ensure that palliative care for adults and children is integrated in all national responses to infectious diseases outbreaks, pandemics, and epidemics as a funded component
- That national infectious diseases response protocols include a palliative care section as standard for both adults and children
- That national emergency response teams for disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics are trained and equipped in aspects of palliative care as providers of appropriate and effective pain and symptom control for both adults and children
- That national infectious diseases response plans and protocols provide for addressing all the needs of patients holistically including not just physical but psychosocial and spiritual aspects to reduce the suffering among affected adults and children and their families.
Agreed on this 24th Day of August 2022
The 2025 conference title is broader to encompass allied services so that it reflects the multi-disciplinary nature of palliative care. The Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness and the African Palliative Care Association hereby extend the invitation for the 5th session to African governments and departments.
To present, exhibit or participate in this session, or to receive individualised invitations and more details, please write to 20years@africanpalliativecare.org or visit the conference website conference.africanpalliativecare.org
