Models of Care: IAHPC Institutional Recognition Award recipients
The International Hospice and Palliative Care Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 IAHPC Institutional Recognition Awards, which celebrate institutions dedicated to developing and providing palliative care to improve the quality of life of patients with serious health-related suffering.
The awards are destined for one institution from countries in each of three economic levels: low income, middle income, and high income. Each award recipient receives a $1,000 USD cash prize and one-year IAHPC institutional membership.
Low-income category
Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Trust
Salima, Malawi
Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Trust founder Lucy Kishindo Finch (front row, second from left) and team members. Photo used with permission.
The mission of Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Trust is to alleviate the pain of chronically ill and dying patients while bringing peace through a holistic approach to both the patient and their family.
In the last four years, Ndimoyo has trained more than 100 health care professionals in a palliative care initiators course that provides face-to-face and bedside training. Ndimoyo provides care to all types of patients; more than 95% are diagnosed with cervical cancer, esophageal cancer, or Kaposi's sarcoma.
“Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Trust inspired reviewers with its board and far-reaching efforts in patient care, education, and outreach,” says Dr. Steven (Skip) Radwany, one of the judges. “It presents a model for organizational mission, communication, and outreach. We enthusiastically applaud their efforts.”
The vision of the institution, which is accredited by the Medical Council of Malawi, is to be the best palliative care service in Malawi and the model for replication elsewhere.
Middle-income category
Palliative Medicine Department, Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute
Ahmedabad, India
Palliative care team members of the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute. Photo used with permission.
The mission of the Palliative Medicine Department of the Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute is to provide state-of the art preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and palliative services to the patients of all ages suffering from cancer. Its scope also encompasses registering the tumor burden in the population, promoting prevention through awareness drives, solving local medical problems through research and training of medical students, and providing education for the medical fraternity.
“The department has excelled in their education of health care professionals as well as in regional outreach and coordination,” says Radwany. “Any program in the country can learn from their efforts, as well as their integration and perseverance over many years of growth.”
Interested in attending the institute? See its listing in the IAHPC Educational Directory of Palliative Care Programs.
High-income category
La Cátedra de Cures Pal-liatives – Fundación “la Caixa”
Catalonia, Spain
Fundación “la Caixa” palliative care team members. Photo used with permission.
The mission of Cátedra de Cures Pal-liatives – Fundación “la Caixa” is to alleviate the suffering of people with advanced chronic conditions by focusing on essential psychosocial and spiritual needs.
“It has helped more than 286,600 seriously ill and terminal patients, and over 371,000 family members through their efforts,” says Radwany. “A unique model of providing spiritual and psychosocial support through existing palliative care teams, they have undertaken continuous improvement by identifying gaps in care for patients while providing far-reaching education on their model of care.”
Its vision proposes that psychosocial and spiritual care as an essential component of palliative care and of universal access for people with advanced chronic conditions, be considered a human right. Both might be achieved by generating experience and evidence to enhance advocacy by policymakers to insert this approach into the health care and social systems.
The program is an active advocate: there are initial formal agreements with health care policy makers, managers, and institutions—with formal follow-up sessions to share outcomes and challenges—and extensive interaction with the media.
Please join IAHPC in congratulating the 2024 Institutional Recognition Award winners!
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