Hope for Palliative Care Services: 33 Professionals Graduate with Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees

By Ivan Kaahwa

A total of 33 healthcare professionals from across Africa, including Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland, Cameroon, and Zambia, have graduated with degrees in palliative care from the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA), awarded by Makerere University. This year’s cohort includes 17 master’s degree recipients and 16 bachelor’s degree recipients.

The Irish Hospice Foundation provided scholarships for eight of the graduates, while others received support from Build Community Give Care (BCGC), the Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU), and the African Palliative Care Association (APCA).

Among the graduates are four Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU) staff members who completed their master’s degrees: Beatrice Asiimwe, Miriel Kabigarire, Harriet Nalubega, and Harriet Nakiganda.

All the graduates completed their programmes through a combination of online and in-person learning.

A Leading Institution in Palliative Care Education

Since its establishment in 2003, IHPCA has trained hundreds of doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals at various levels. The institute offers a three-year bachelor’s programme in palliative care, a two-year master’s programme, a diploma, and several short courses.

The Academic Registrar of IHPCA, Dr. Nasur Buyinza, congratulated the graduates, describing the graduation as a significant milestone in the journey to integrate palliative care into health systems across Africa. He noted that this was the second master’s graduation and the largest number of graduates recorded in a single year since the programme began, reflecting the institute’s reputation as a premier palliative care learning institution in Uganda. Dr. Buyinza also highlighted the critical role of the master’s programme in fostering research and evidence-based practices in palliative care, which have been lacking in the region.

Fulfilling a Vision for Africa’s Healthcare

Prossy Nakyanja, the Executive Director of HAU, emphasized that training healthcare workers from across Africa is crucial to ensuring that palliative care becomes an integral part of healthcare systems. This focus aligns with the vision of Professor Dr. Anne Merriman, who founded IHPCA 31 years ago to spread palliative care across the African continent.

IHPCA continues to serve as the education arm of Hospice Africa Uganda and a center of excellence for palliative care training and service delivery. With each graduating class, the institute reaffirms its commitment to transforming healthcare across Africa and improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

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