Scientific Co-Chairs
Dr Esther Hortense Murielle Dina Bell epse Mbassi Ndocko
Cameroonian doctor, Vice President of Federation Francophone Internationale de Soins Palliatfs (FFISP) and a Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Douala.
Dr Esther Dina Bell Spouse Mbassi Ndocko is a Cameroonian doctor, Vice President of Federation Francophone Internationale de Soins Palliatfs (FFISP) and a Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Douala. She is a medical oncologist, with a Master's in Public Health and a University Diploma in Clinical research, as well as a University Diploma in supportive oncology care from the Paris-Descartes University and a certification in palliative medicine from Hospice Africa Uganda. Back in Cameroon, she is dedicated to integrating palliative care into the treatment of cancer patients, participating in training, and advocating for access to painkillers. In 2017, she opened a palliative care unit at Bonassama District Hospital, adopting a home-visiting model. She initiated the ESOP FOSAL project to train healthcare professionals in 24 health districts in Littoral region of Cameroon with the support of APCA. Founder of the VOPACA (Volunteers for Palliative Care) association, she mobilizes volunteers to provide community palliative care in Littoral region. Thanks to its collaboration with ADESPA and the FFISP, chaired by Prof. BURUCOA, she has facilitated the creation, within the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, of the first University Diploma in Pain Medicine and Palliative Medicine in Central Africa. She has also lobbied for the reconstitution of morphine, leading to a laboratory at Douala General Hospital, and has published several works in oncology and palliative care.
Dr Babe Eunice Gaolebale
Leading palliative care clinician in Botswana.
Dr Babe Gaolebale is the leading palliative care clinician in Botswana. She has been practicing palliative care for over 15 years. She is an Ordained Pastor that has just completed her masters in Divinity enabling her to offer specialist palliative care combined with deep spiritual insight providing Holistic patient centered care. She has contributed positively to the development of palliative care in Botswana including the development of the Palliative care guidelines, Policy , strategy and national training programs .She has led the pain Free Hospital Initiative as the national champion since its introduction in 2016. She is the current Chairman of the National Palliative care Technical Working group. She sits on the Board of the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) . She is an executive member of the Botswana Hospice and Palliative care Association (BHPCA ) She has publications in palliative care and cancer care with ongoing collaborations and research. She offers sessional palliative care teachings to both undergraduates and postgraduates for University of Botswana School of Medicine.
