Shepherd Hospice Celebrates World Hospice & Palliative Care Day
By Suliaman T. Jalloh
On Saturday 14th October, 2023 Sheperd Hospice celebrated World Hospice and Palliative care day at the Institution’s headquarters at Macdonald Town, a meter off Waterloo in the Western Rural District.
The theme of this year’s event is “Compassionate communities: Together for palliative care”.
Speaking at the auspicious ceremony, the CEO & Founder of Shepherd Hospice Sierra Leone, Mr. Gabriel Madiye started off by giving a brief background of the World Hospice and Palliative care day, intimating that this year’s celebration is set aside to advocate for support for people with serious health related diseases.
“As all over the world the World Hospice and Palliative Care day is celebrated on second Saturday of October every year. But we decided to celebrate this day with communities, institutions, and healthcare providers to advocate for palliative care policies and program that support the strategic development goal of good health and well-being of people”, he said.
He further informed the gatherings that in celebration of this day they have patients with illness which have been given treatment at the Hospital facility treatment and that the hospital has 30 bed health facility for patients with short illness.
Stating that the hospital is administering treatment to patients that do not have money to pay for their hospital bills.
“We have partnered with some collective groups in England, Germany, America to provide treatment to vulnerable people”, he added.
He maintained that his organization is in the lead for promoting palliative care, and raising awareness of diseases such as Cancer, HIV/AIDS. He proudly stated that his hospital has drugs known as Opioid to treat who are suffering from certain illnesses and that this drugs is not available in any Government hospitals.
He also called on the Government to intensify their approach towards palliative care as most people are suffering from pain and need medicine that can treat their illnesses.
He continued by encouraged all SierraLeoneans to pass on the message about the shepherd Hospice health center so that more people will benefit from their goodies.
According to Global Atals, over 56.8 million people are estimated to recover from palliative care every year.
Mahawa Bangura, one of the patients, who received treatment from Shepherd Hospice Health center gave her testimony about the treatment she received after suffering from six years of illness and had gone to many Government hospitals but to no avail.
“I suffered for six years in sickness and my situation had been getting worst despite visiting several hospital for treatment. At some point, I can’t even walk, and it was during the course of my illness I was recommended to the Shepherd Hospice Health center where I regained my health back without any charges”, she testified, adding that during the stage of her treatment she was encouraged by doctor Kamara, whom counselled her to be taken her drugs that helped to regain her health back.
“When I was treated at the hospital, I was able to recover speedily due to the treatment which helped me to started walking again and I praise God for this wonderful recovery and extended my profound thanks to shepherd hospice Health center”, she concluded.
