Why Uganda?

There are a great many hurdles to providing relief to impoverished populations.  While Uganda is the 21st poorest country in the world, because of its stable government, relatively high literacy rate, and a solid economy, the programs that PCFU sets up are more sustainable and productive there.  The  Ugandan government was an early adopter and remains a strong supporter of the importance of palliative care. Largely because of the hindrances to providing timely and curative treatments for many illnesses that are adequately dealt with in countries with more developed medical systems, the Uganda Ministry of Health has been supportive of palliative care for many years now. The government realizes that through the use of palliative care techniques, the reduction of suffering and an improved quality of life is often the most important component of patient care.  The Ugandan people are motivated and work hard to better their lives.  We have made  partnerships with strong and reliable organizations in Uganda that allow us to foster sustainable programs.  

---

Our Focus is on Rural

In a country with 86% of the population living in rural areas, and with 70% of the doctors practicing in the cities, people living in the rural areas are under-served. Likely for logistical reasons, efforts by the Ugandan government and other NGOs have largely focused on the urban centers of the country. Palliative Care for Uganda centers its efforts on the rural populations where poverty and the lack of transportation makes access to medical care of any type difficult.  For that reason, patients often present with advanced disease, often no longer curable, and palliative care is much needed.