01 Jul 2013

A Consultant Surgeon at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital’s  Palliative Care clinic, Dr Celeste Mbangtang has called on government to consider including palliative care in clinical professionals' training programme.

Dr Mbangtang told a stakeholders’ breakfast meeting on palliative care in Francistown that clinical professionals had been caring for clients with palliative care needs without any training.

The consultant surgeon said clinical professionals lacked knowledge on palliative care and only came across it in the field.  “Knowledge and training can help us extend our comfort zone so that we can better respond to patients in a professional manner,” he said.

He highlighted that out of 53 countries in Africa, only four, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda as well as Tanzania have palliative care integrated into their health or cancer strategic plans.

Dr Mbangtang said in Botswana, it was not fully installed until in 2008 when a palliative care advisory committee was established to guide the implementation of palliative care services in the country.

In 2002, the Ministry of Health commissioned a palliative care situational analysis culminating with the adoption of palliative care strategy through Community Home Based Care programme, he said

Consequently, Dr Mbangtang said the strategic move by the ministry was also delayed until it was reactivated again in 2011, with the establishment of a cancer palliative care clinic at Nyangabgwe.

Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said it was imperative for individuals, community members and different organisations to come up with approaches which would make palliative care a viable and sustainable programme.

Mr Matlhabaphiri said hospitals treat patients with acute and chronic diseases and as such they should identify patients with palliative care needs and initiate care by liaising with palliative care teams who should support and anchor initiative needs. ENDS