Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) recently received the keys to 3 Jan Jonker Road in Klein Windhoek, where the first specialist palliative care centre for cancer patients in Namibia will be established.
The first phase of the project at a budgeted N$7,5 million is the biggest investment by the welfare organisation to fight cancer in Namibia.
The centre aims to complement the already existing support programmes offered by CAN for cancer patients in the country, and is focused on integrating with existing medical treatment programmes of both state and private cancer care.
CAN chief executive Rolf Hansen says palliative care is a critical component of cancer care often lagging in low- and middle-income countries due to a lack of resources.
“Palliative Care Namibia (PCN) is the final objective in our current 10-year strategic plan that concludes in 2025,” he says.
Namibia has some level of palliation, however, a national policy, framework or guidelines, in addition to a training centre of excellence and specialist hospice units are not yet available, Hansen says.
“The World Health Organisation places emphasis on palliative care development, and we (CAN) trust that through this new programme relevant stakeholders will be united so that we can capacitate caregivers and healthcare workers in both state and private systems.
“We also need to empower family members to better understand the needs of their loved ones when it comes to end-of-life palliative care,” he says.
The new centre will benchmark with similar institutions in the Western Cape, while specialisation in this field of study is already underway through the University of Cape Town’s Palliative Care Programme.
Hansen says capacity building and in-hospital training will be assisted with by Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, and local training will then be presented by Palliative Care Namibia through the ongoing support of both UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital.
The Windhoek East centre is anticipated to open during the middle of 2023, while a Windhoek West unit is planned to open by the end of the year.
Expansion to the coast is also planned.
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