This article originally appeared in ehospice
Access to children’s hospice and palliative care services makes a difference to the care of children with HIV. Far too few children have this access.
The World Health Assembly Resolution 67:19 calls for the integration of palliative care services for children into health systems and for collaboration between health services and civil society.
Until we have adequate services, trained healthcare workers, adequate community services and access to medicines – including ART and pain medicines – in paediatric formulations, children will continue to suffer.
Programmes in developing countries such as Malawi and India[1] have shown that effective palliative care can be provided to improve the child’s quality of life even when resources are limited.
Palliative care is an essential part of the response to HIV for children, and we should continue our advocacy efforts until their right to healthcare, including quality palliative care, is realised.
Read the full article on ehospice.
References
[1] ICPCN Report on Developing Children’s Palliative Care in Malawi and the Maharashtra District of India www.icpcn.org