Children’s Palliative Care in Africa 2009

Despite the enormous need, provision of children’s palliative care in Africa is almost non-existent. However, health care professionals recognise that the principles of adult palliative care may not always be applicable to children at the end of life. Written by a group with wide experience of caring for dying children in Africa, this accessible, evidence-based book provides practical, realistic guidance on improving access to, and the delivery of, palliative care in this demanding setting. The book examines themes common to palliative care, including communication, assessment, symptom management, psychosocial issues, ethical dilemmas, and end of life care. Also provided are tips for the professional on compassion and conservation of energy and, whilst containing some theory, the emphasis is on practical action. The aim of the book is to provide health care professionals working in Africa, and other resource-poor settings, with the confidence, knowledge, and capacity to improve care for a terminally ill child in constrained and demanding environments.