Travel date: November 7, 2017
Name of Meeting/Event/Activity: AORTIC 2017
Origin: Kampala, Uganda / Destination: Kigali, Rwanda
The African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) organizes regular conferences on the African continent to share knowledge and experience in the field of cancer care, prevention, research, treatment and training. This year’s conference took place in Kigali, Rwanda at the International Convention Centre, from 7th to 10th November 2017. The theme for this years’ conference was “Cancer in Africa: Making Strides, Creating Solutions". Objectives of the conference : 1. Present research, share expertise, hear case studies and gain practical information to ensure success in cancer care, management and research in Africa. 2. Participate in workshops led by expert speaking faculty. 3. Broaden network for clinical support, collaboration and education. 4. Keep up to date and make empowered and educated decisions on what is happening in the field of cancer and palliative care in Africa. 5. Access more than twenty hours of networking with cancer professionals from over 70 different countries across the world. Participation: The conference attracted researchers, oncologists, physicians, surgeons, professors, Nurses, palliative care experts, public Health specialists, social workers, cancer patients and survivors to mention but a few from all over the world. Under the theme “Cancer in Africa: Making Strides, Creating Solutions", the AORTIC 2017 conference included cutting edge cancer management and basic science and clinical research on cancers relevant to Africa and elsewhere. The conference consisted of a combination of "Meet the Experts" breakfast sessions which to me were very informative, interactive workshops, industry symposia, and free communications of research conducted in Africa and internationally, exhibition of palliative care and cancer related materials and key note addresses. The conference was truly an international event, plenary sessions covered recent developments in cancer prevention, treatment, palliative care, training and research. Several mini symposia and poster presentation sessions covered a wide range of new developments and specialist areas in palliative care, cancer and research.
Achievements; I gained a deeper understanding of research presentation skills in palliative care and the current research methodologies which I will use to strengthen our research department and to teach my other colleagues who never had a chance to attend this conference. I interacted and shared ideas/skills with renowned scholars in the field of palliative care and cancer research. I got an opportunity to learn new and relevant palliative care developments as well as HPV prevention strategies. I had a memorable experience of presenting an oral poster entitled “The Psychosocial and Economic Effects of Caring for Terminally Ill Patients: The Case of Hospice Africa Uganda“ to a large audience of international delegates. I had a rare chance to ask questions, interact with renowned international scholars and to make friends. I am sure these friends will help me to network with other professional colleagues and to create meaningful collaborations with my organization.
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I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the professional work done by the team at IAHPC and your usual support for our organizational undertaking. Here at Hospice Africa Uganda, our goal is to make sure all patients with palliative care needs including those with severe pain receive holistic palliative care including access to oral liquid morphine for their pain. While we have served over 25,000 patients with palliative care related problems, the sad fact is that this constitutes only about 10% of those in need of our care. Your generous travelling scholarship program will go a long way to helping us especially in low income countries gain the badly needed research knowledge and to build sustainable networks that can move palliative care to another level. In fact, with your grant, I have been able to develop my palliative care advocacy and research skills and these will greatly help in my day to day dispensation of work. Through this grant and other support you have extended to us, I want to assure the team at IAHPC that you made a real difference in the lives of both patients and students we serve. Thank you once again for this travel grant, it means a lot to me and to my work in the organization.