Fee: $30 (to cover meals)

Type: Invitation only

Contact: Dr. Eve Namisango (eve.namisango@africanpalliativecare.org), Prof. Julia Downing (julia.downing@icpcn.org)

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African Ministers of Health Session

The Ministers of Health Session will be hosted by the Government of Uganda, by the Botswana Minister of Health. This will be in collaboration with African Palliative Care Association, WHO’s AFRO Office, the Federation of Palliative Care in French-speaking countries, and internal security organs in Botswana.

APCA will utilise the lessons from prior sessions in Johannesburg (2013), Kampala (2016 & 2022), and Kigali (2019) to make the 2025 session even more impactful.

Aim

To provide a regional forum through which African ministers of health and other regional organisations can share progress, exchange best practices, and develop a strategy for accelerating financing for palliative care development.

Objectives

• Increase policy-level awareness of government responsibilities in implementing the 2014 WHA Resolution on Palliative Care.
• Exchange lessons and best practices based on the 2013 African Ministers of Health Consensus Statement.
• Develop regional strategies to increase financing for palliative care and allied health services.
• Share and discuss national and regional progress on the 2014 WHA Resolution and other frameworks.
• Sensitise regional development bodies on the importance of investing in palliative and chronic care.
• Provide a platform for WHO, IAEA, INCB, and UICC to engage with ministers.

Fee: $30 (to cover meals)

Aim of the Day

This research methods workshop will enable delegates to develop their knowledge and skills in grant writing, public engagement, and communicating with non-academic audiences.

Delegates Will:

• Train African scholars in writing research proposals for successful grant applications.
• Train African scholars in writing research proposals for successful PhD funding.
• Train African scholars in public engagement and communication with non-academic audiences.
• Provide an opportunity to bring questions, ideas, and challenges related to research proposals (grant or PhD funding) and receive advice from a panel of experienced researchers.
• Identify useful resources—YouTube, databases for literature access, and other tools helpful in grant applications and community engagement.

Intended Audience

This workshop is aimed at multi-professional delegates such as nurses, social workers, clinical officers, doctors, pharmacists, allied health professionals, researchers, and educators interested in palliative care research in Africa.

Pre-doctoral, doctoral, and postdoctoral delegates will also be invited.

Fee: $30 (to cover meals)

Focus: Grant & PhD proposal writing, public engagement. Open to multidisciplinary professionals including pre/postdoctoral researchers.

• Plenary on research in Africa (Matt Harding – TBC)
• Talks on funding and academic pathways
• Panel on academic careers
• Public engagement – Dr. Eve Namisango
• Mentorship from experts like Kennedy Nkhoma

Mapping African Bereavement Evidence and Developing a Future African Grief Research Agenda: An Opportunity to Share Your Perspectives

Contributors

Daniel Knights, Eve Namisango, Joe Bradley, Natuhwera Germans, Julia Downing, Elizabeth Namukwaya, Simon Etkind

Background / Context

Bereavement is a universal human experience with well-established impacts on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Research shows that bereaved individuals use more healthcare services and face higher risks of early excess mortality. In Africa, where fertility rates are high and life expectancy is low, death and bereavement are more common. While some research and innovation in bereavement support exist, they lag behind broader palliative care developments on the continent.

Aim

A new collaboration between APCA, Makerere University, and Cambridge University (UK), funded by the ALBORADA Trust, aims to summarise existing research on African bereavement and conduct a Delphi study to establish consensus on future research priorities.

Methods

A systematic mapping review of literature on bereavement experiences and support interventions across Africa is in progress. To date, 2652 records have been identified for screening and mapping. This workshop will present review results, summarise outcomes from the pre-conference workshop, and invite participants to share their perspectives and contribute to the research priority-setting process.

Results

Insights from this workshop, combined with the pre-conference session, will guide future online surveys aimed at achieving consensus on the most urgent research topics. The initiative aspires to form a pan-African bereavement research network to support academic collaboration and funding efforts.

Discussion

This session is ideal for participants with professional or lived experience of grief, or those interested in bereavement services. Attendees will gain insights into existing research, identify knowledge gaps, and help shape the emerging bereavement research agenda across Africa.

Fee: $30 (to cover meals)

Proposed by: Global Treehouse, Laura Dale-Harris and Erin Das

Led by: Global Treehouse in collaboration with 2 to 3 existing users (children's palliative providers) across the continent.

Leads: Erin Das – erin.das@globaltreehouse.foundation, Laura Dale-Harris – laura.dale.harris@globaltreehouse.foundation

Workshop Overview

Across Africa, children’s palliative care providers face the challenge of measuring impact and using data effectively to enhance services. In response, the Global Treehouse Foundation co-designed the Magnify Tool, a free, user-centered, and customizable tool that enables children's palliative care providers to explore, analyze, and use their service data for program improvement. Developed collaboratively with over 60 contributors from 20+ countries across six continents, the tool provides a structured way for teams to assess programs, set priorities, and access a repository of real-world resources.

This interactive workshop will introduce participants to the Magnify Tool and demonstrate its application in diverse care settings, from community-based outpatient clinics to hospitals and home-based care settings. Through case studies and hands-on engagement, attendees will explore how the tool’s 100+ metrics across ten key areas can help them enhance service delivery and advocate for improved care.

Objectives

• Understand the value of data-driven decision-making in children’s palliative care.
• Learn how to use the Magnify Tool to evaluate and improve their services.
• Explore real-world examples of successful data application from African providers.
• Discuss challenges in data collection, interpretation, and action in resource-constrained settings.

Target Audience

• Palliative care providers (nurses, doctors, social workers, psychologists, child life specialists).
• Program managers and data managers working in pediatric palliative care.
• Researchers, educators, and policy advocates seeking to improve service measurement and impact.

Format (flexible between 90 minutes – 3 hours)

• Introduction to the Magnify Tool – Background, development, and key features.
• Interactive demonstration – Hands-on session exploring tool functionalities.
• Case study discussions – Insights from African providers who have previously used the Magnify Tool using data for impact.
• Group exercise – Participants will identify how they could implement the tool in their settings.
• Q&A and reflections – Sharing experiences and feedback.

Expected Outcomes

• Participants gain practical knowledge of the Magnify Tool.
• Increased awareness of data-driven approaches in pediatric palliative care.
• Strengthened regional collaboration around service evaluation and improvement.

Conclusion: The Magnify Tool represents a new opportunity in data-driven, collaborative paediatric palliative care. By using the Magnify Tool, teams will be empowered and enabled to better plan and advocate for their services. This workshop offers an opportunity for African providers to engage with the tool, share insights, and contribute to a growing global community committed to strengthening children’s palliative care through data.

Reserve your spot by registering via this URL link.