Abstract
Palliative care in Uganda is very limited, resulting in unnecessary suffering for thousands of patient Older People (OP) due to negative attitudes. Lack of specialized trained personnel in geriatrics and social gerontology. High cost of drugs coupled with repeated drug stock-outs and assistive devices/equipment. OP lack physical strength to line up in queues waiting for treatment. This has resulted in OP accessing health care services from traditional health practitioners. Specific challenge of NCDs and OP include late diagnosis for hypertension, diabetes, cancer due to stigma and misdiagnosis; OP have limited independence in activities of daily living affecting their self-care and productivity leading to poor health. Over 3% of OP attended the psychiatric clinic with depression related conditions. 26% of OP had at least one episode of hypertension and 2.6% an episode of Diabetes Mellitus leading to pill burden. Age related hearing and vision loss and sometimes total blindness are common. A descriptive exploratory study employing collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data was conducted in Budaka, Kamwenge and Luwero districts to assess inclusion of OP into Non-Communicable Diseases Responses during the health care systems strengthening strategy in Uganda. Through Focus Group Discussions, OP with hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and Key Informant Interviews with health care service providers; Palliative Care Handbook in Africa 2010 and the Uganda Social Protection Study (2016) were counter reviewed. Uganda palliative care health systems strengthening approaches need to include palliative care training for healthcare professionals to compressively respond to OP specific health concerns.
Presenters
Monja MinsiPrograms Manager, Health and Ageing, Foundation for Male Engagement (FOME), Wakiso, Uganda
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Older People, Palliative Care
