Botswana has 4 515 patients in community home-based care

Palliative care is a beacon of hope, as it enhances the quality of life for patients and their families during challenging moments of their lives, World Health Organisation (WHO) Botswana Case Management Officer, Dr Theo Ntenegi has said.

Speaking at the recent commemoration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day in Kanye, Dr Ntenegi said Palliative care extends far beyond the alleviation of physical symptoms as it embodies a team approach, providing the necessary support to patients and their caregiver, which includes addressing practical needs and offering bereavement counselling to those who have lost their loved ones.

Dr Ntenegi revealed that annually, approximately 56.8 million people are in need of palliative care worldwide, with the majority residing in low and middle-income countries. “The scale of this need becomes apparent when we consider the findings from a WHO survey conducted in 2019 concerning non-communicable diseases. The survey that was conducted among 194 Member states, revealed that funding for palliative care was available in only 68 percent of countries, yet only 40 percent reported that the services reached at least half of the patients in need,” he said Ntenegi also encouraged communities to work together, stating that palliative care lies not in isolation but in unity. “Let us work hand in hand to ensure that no one is left to suffer in silence, and every individual facing a terminal illness receives the support and care they deserve.” Assistant Minister of Health, Setlhomo Lelatisitswe also shared the same sentiments, stating that palliative care is a shared responsibility and it improves the quality of life of people facing serious illnesses. He said Palliative Care is a major unmet need across the world. “Our work with WHO on the Global Atlas of Palliative Care showed that only about 12 percent of the nearly 60 million adults and children in need of palliative care services receive it. Some 18 million people die every year with pain and suffering, due to lack of access to palliative care and pain relief. “From March 2022 to March 2023, the Community Home Based Care (CHBC) programme registered a total of 4515 clients, comprising 1028 bedridden clients, 1306 homebound and 757 ambulant clients,” he said. The assistant minister said that 1 109 cases of cancers were registered in 2020, comprising 363 men and 746 women. Of the above registered cancer patients, 184 of them were on Palliative Care of which 107 (58 percent) were females and 77 (42 percent) males. The programme registered Palliative

Care clients with Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA), severe disability and other conditions. “This figure is not a true representation of Palliative Care clients since majority are unreported and nursed by caregivers at home,” Lelatisitswe said. He said the government of Botswana has embraced the global call to pursue Universal Health Coverage and health systems strengthening in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Member of Parliament for Kanye North, Thapelo Letsholo said palliative care improves the quality of life of patients, for both adults and children and their families. He also advocated that care givers’ allowances of P350 be increased.