Palliative Care Awareness Day in Polokwane: A Heartwarming Success

The PALPRAC team was excited to head to Polokwane for a Palliative Care Awareness Day, hosted on the 5th of December 2024 in partnership with the Limpopo Department of Health. This event brought together participants from all corners of the province, with some travelling from as far as Groblersdal to join the occasion. Participants were enthusiastic and friendly, setting the tone for an impactful day. (We must admit, the PALPRAC team gave themselves a little pat on the back for the smooth rollout of our new GlueUp electronic registration process!)

It was obvious that a solid foundation for palliative care had already been established in the region. Prof. Gert Markinowitz, Dr Thamba Khangale and the team have been successfully running online palliative care training sessions for healthcare professionals in Limpopo, many of whom were present at the event. Adding a splash of inspiration to the day were the vibrant t-shirts designed by Dr Rapudi Morifi, Clinical Manager of Polokwane Provincial Hospital, featuring the slogan: “We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey.” Worn proudly by the team, these t-shirts effectively create awareness for palliative care in their place of work.

The turnout was encouraging, with around 72 healthcare professionals attending. Despite a packed schedule of lectures, the hall stayed full until the very end—perhaps the superb lunch helped keep everyone going!

The agenda featured expert-led discussions on essential topics, including pain management, advance care planning and ethical decision-making in palliative care. During the Q&A sessions, attendees opened up about the challenges they face in the field, including the lack of awareness about palliative care among colleagues, patients, and families, which often leads to late or missed referrals. Access to oral morphine was highlighted as another significant challenge requiring urgent attention.

Despite these hurdles, attendees displayed a strong commitment to improving palliative care services in the region. Their collaborative efforts and clinical leadership continue to advance access to care for patients in Limpopo, even in the face of resource constraints.

Palliative care isn’t rocket science, but it is complex, focusing at its core on providing compassionate support to individuals with serious illnesses. However, it can sometimes feel like an uphill battle within a healthcare system that is so heavily focused on curing diseases. Events like this are instrumental in fostering networks of support, enabling practitioners to exchange ideas and strategies, and reinforcing a sense of shared purpose. The palliative care community’s strength lies in its collaboration, resourcefulness, and dedication to patient-centered care, as this event aptly demonstrated.

The PALPRAC team extends its gratitude to our colleagues in Limpopo for their efforts in organizing this event and to all the attendees for their active participation.

If you’re interested in hosting a similar awareness day in your region, don’t hesitate to reach out to PALPRAC—we’d love to explore how we can work together to make it happen!

Watch this short video of the day’s highlights: