The Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa (Alexandria, Virginia) and The African Palliative Care Association (Kampala, Uganda) are working together in an international effort to scale up hospice and palliative care services in Africa.   Many other organizations and partners are involved as well.

The FHSSA Partnership Initiative is a significant part of the FHSSA/APCA relationship.

Through program-to-program partnerships, African hospice and palliative care programs can be supported, nurtured, and developed.   The common goal is to have every person in need – particularly in the context of the HIV/AIDS pandemic – receive affordable, high quality and culturally sensitive palliative care.

Other initiatives include:

• Fundraise and procure grants to support APCA and specific program initiatives in African countries for the development and expansion of hospice and palliative care.
• Support and advance the development and effectiveness of country-wide national associations of hospice and palliative care providers.
• Advocate for national policies that address hospice and palliative care, including official pain medication and management policies that facilitate access to appropriate medications.
• Establish standards of care, as well as monitor and evaluate mechanisms for hospice and palliative care.
• Support professional development at all levels, including physician and nurse training and certification.
• Provide health care organizations and associations with technical assistance, mentoring, and coaching on all aspects of organizational development and the provision of hospice and palliative care.
• Generate a substantial endowment fund to contribute to the sustainability of hospice and palliative care services in Africa.

The specific role of FHSSA and APCA in the partnership initiative is:

1. Establish partner credibility and appropriateness through an application and due diligence process.
2. Match partners appropriately, where available using the expertise of existing national hospice and palliative care associations.
3. Align partner activities where appropriate with the overall objective of scaling up hospice and palliative care services in Africa.
4. Demonstrate to participating partners the local benefits of partnering.
5. Coach and mentor partners participating in the partnership experience, demonstrating best practices and assisting in resolving major partnership problems and issues.
6. Drive the FHSSA Partnership Initiative to the highest levels of effectiveness and productivity.
7. Link and provide technical expertise where necessary and appropriate.
8. Wire funds to African partners and assuring the use of those funds is consistent with the intended uses.
9. Report to partners, and to the governing Boards of FHSSA and APCA, about the partnering experience.
10. Grant funds to partnerships for use in expanding their partnership to further advance the provision of hospice and palliative care in Africa.

FHSSA continues to strengthening its collaboration with the African Palliative Care Association.  We encourage you to learn more about APCA.