Traveling Scholars Program Report
N. Dennis Mwafulirwa
Travel date: October 6, 2021
Name of Meeting/Event/Activity: 17th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care
Origin: Lisbon, Malawi / Destination: Vilvoorde, Belgium
How was this meeting/activity helpful to you?
The conference introduced me to some interesting research work and innovative approaches being used in parts of the world to advance palliative care during this time of Covid-19 and as we think beyond the pandemic. Particularly, it challenged me in terms of how organizations can thrive and be resilient by their ability to quickly adapt to changing contexts and collaborating with others i.e., strengthening specialists palliative care including through technology platforms. In addition, having to meet people from around the world and share experiences in hospice and palliative care practice was phenomenon. It is a rare opportunity, one that is empowering. While it was difficult at first to navigate through the different rooms to find the right presentation or session, it was a great experience overall.
How will you new knowledge & acquired skills help in furthering your work in hospice and palliative care in your program/city/ or country?
We are planning on how to embrace some of the innovations used elsewhere that could be adapted and contextualized here to help provide continued community and specialist palliative care during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. It was clear from the conference that we are all reminded that necessity is at the heart of innovation. There is need to value and essentialize palliative care services in-order to invest the needed resources, and this is an area for advocacy.
Currently, Malawi has about 176,000 people needing palliative care services and support and these are currently limited. Our challenge as a voluntary and not-for-profit organization is how do we reach more people with services and supports with increasing financial challenges? That said, the conference provided resources and tools to help us advocate for and demonstrate to relevant stakeholders from evidence-based perspective the significance of palliative care services, and even so, during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are cost effective ways to provide the needed care and support, but first as a country we need to value and essentialize palliative care and support.
How IAHPC Traveling Scholars Program be improved in order to help other future traveling scholars?
If there is possibility to increase number of scholarships, please do so. All I can say is thank you that this program exists
Narrative summary highlighting the needs and challanges you face
Currently, Malawi has about 176,000 people needing palliative care services and support and these are currently limited. Our challenge as a voluntary and not-for-profit organization is how do we reach more people with services and supports with increasing financial challenges? That said, the conference provided resources and tools to help us advocate for and demonstrate to relevant stakeholders from evidence-based perspective the significance of palliative care services, and even so, during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are cost effective ways to provide the needed care and support, but first as a country we need to value and essentialize palliative care and support.