Ann Armstrong Dailey of CHI presents ICPCN Chair, Joan Marston, with her Achievement Award

The Children’s Hospice International’s 20th World Congress took place in September in Cape Town, South Africa and was jointly hosted by the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) and the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage. The conference theme was “Nurturing the Spirit”. Presentations addressed the spirit of the children cared for, and the spirit of those attending to the care for children and young people, including parents, hospice care staff, volunteers and government.

The conference was opened with a video message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, followed by an inspiring presentation by Sister Frances Dominica, founder of Helen House Children’s Hospice.  Sister Frances founded the very first children's hospice, Helen House, back in November 1982.  She is also the founder of Douglas House, the first hospice to open for young adults. 

The opening of Helen House set in motion a movement that has  spread and taken root in a growing number of countries around the world, including South Africa where there are now more than 40 sites providing palliative care to children.

Twenty- one countries were represented at the conference and the range of presentations provided a flavour of the innovative developments in children’s palliative care taking place in different parts of the world. 
 
A spirit of greater global collaboration emerged from the conference and delegates made a commitment to work together to find creative ways to bridge the gap between palliative care resources available for children in developed and those in developing countries, signing the ICPCN Declaration of Cape Town. More details about the declaration are outlined in the ICPCN newsletter 7.  The declaration can be viewed and downloaded from here.

The conference also saw the launch of a new textbook, Children’s Palliative Care in Africa, which aims to improve and increase access to care for children with life-limiting illnesses in Africa. The textbook will support more health workers to care better for children with life-limiting illnesses and dramatically improve their quality of life.

Edited by Dr. Justin Amery, Children’s Palliative Care in Africa addresses key palliative care themes which are crucial to expanding the provision of children’s palliative care. Although focused on experience in Africa, it is believed that it will also have relevance in other resource-poor settings. The textbook can be downloaded from the ICPCN website.


A few of the Contributing authors were present to celebrate the launch with Justin.
Fom left to right: Colette Cunningham; Dr Julia Downing; Dr Justin Amery, Joan Marston, Sue Boucher, Dr Michelle Meiring, Nkosazana Ngidi, Carla Horne

CHI Achievement Awards

At each World Congress, CHI presents these awards to recognize the accomplishments of individuals and organizations within the various specialties of children's hospice and palliative care.  The awards are named in honor of renowned individuals who have greatly contributed to past advancements in the field.  The 2009 CHI Achievement Awards winners spanning the globe from England, Scotland, Germany, and South Africa, are as follows:  
Brother Francis Edwards, Joan Marston, Katrina McNamara-Goodger and Dr Monica Fuhrer (not in picture)