Palliative care not luxury but a human right-WHO Rep
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Tuesday September 30, 2025 15:46
Speaking at the eighth International African Palliative Care and Allied Services Conference and Ministers of Health Session on Palliative Care on Tuesday, he explained that palliative care is the compassionate response to suffering caused by life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. He added that it was the right investment to achieve national and global obligations.
“As we gather to shape the future of health in Africa and the world, we must recognise that the measure of a health system is not only in how it saves lives, but also in how it cares for those nearing the end of life. Palliative care is cost-effective, it is ethically imperative, and central to achieving health equity. Investing in palliative care is investing in human dignity, economic resilience, and sustainable development. Palliative care is a strong bridge connecting humanitarian response, climate resilience, migration equity, and peacebuilding. It is not just medical care, but a moral and strategic investment in Africa’s future,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr Ndenzako emphasised that palliative care is not just about symptom management but is holistic, addressing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. He added that policies they generated must empower patients and families to be at the center of care planning, respecting their values and preferences. He also pointed out that WHO, through the WHA, endorsed several resolutions in support of palliative care.
Dr Ndenzako said in 2014, the first ever resolution was endorsed, titled Strengthening of Palliative Care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course, urging member states to integrate palliative care into national health systems, especially at the primary health care level; ensure access to essential medicines, including opioids for pain relief; include palliative care in health professional training and support community/home-based care models.
“We request WHO to provide technical support and develop guidelines and tools and monitor progress, and report back to the WHA. Africa faces the highest burden of life-threatening diseases needing palliative care, and yet many countries still face legal and logistical barriers to accessing morphine and other pain-relief medications,” he said.
“However, there is a hope. Across the region, we are seeing hope, thanks to the bold decisions that you have made, commitment to ensuring that the movement for the UHC in your countries also includes Palliative Care. Let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that palliative care is available, accessible, and affordable for all people in the African Region, regardless of where they live or their economic status. The time to act is now. Let us commit to building health systems that not only cure but also care,” he also said.
He further called on the participating Ministers to build health systems that uphold dignity, alleviate suffering, and ensure that no African dies in pain or in isolation.
For his part, acting Minister of Health, Lawrence Ookeditse, said the Community Home-Based Care (CHBC) and Palliative Care played a vital role in providing comfort, dignity, and support for those who are living with chronic conditions or facing terminal illnesses. He added that Botswana made significant strides in addressing the healthcare needs of its people, particularly in light of challenges such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and non-communicable diseases.
“Botswana is proud of its strides, such as the launch of our National Hospice and Palliative Care Policy, aligned with WHA67.19 and SDG 3.8; adoption of integrated Community-Based Health Services Guidelines, institutionalizing people-centered care and hosting the eighth International African Palliative Care Conference and the fifth African Ministers of Health Session on Palliative Care this September in Gaborone,” he said.
“Yet, challenges remain, political prioritisation, financing, coverage, and commodity availability. Too often, urgent diseases overshadow palliative care, funding is insufficient, rural coverage is limited, and access to essential medicines is inconsistent,” he said.
Moreover, Ookeditse stated that in Botswana, the government long recognised the need for integrated healthcare services that reach every corner of the country. He said at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the government quickly adopted community home-based care. He added that community health workers became indispensable in reaching people who could not access facilities, especially in rural areas. He also stated that currently, many people with HIV/AIDS, TB, and other chronic illnesses still benefit from their dedication.
He further pointed out that the MoH had taken important steps to integrate palliative care into the broader health system, including guidelines for care and efforts to improve public awareness. However, he explained, while they made progress, the political commitment to palliative care had not yet reached the level that it deserves. He said too often, the urgency of communicable diseases and other immediate health concerns overshadows the importance of providing comprehensive care at the end of life, saying they must ensure that those changes are made.
“I am committed to ensuring that both community home-based care and palliative care receive the attention and investment they need. Together, we will advocate for stronger support, higher levels of investment, and better policies that prioritize the needs of our most vulnerable populations. Botswana has made significant progress in financing healthcare for our people. Our government provides essential services to all citizens through our public health system, and we are proud of the progress made in providing universal healthcare,” he stated.