What should the palliative care community be doing to ease the burden of war refugees with palliative care needs?

Joan Marston, ICPCN's Chief Executive (International Children's Palliative Care Network), asks what the palliative care community should be doing to ease the burden of war refugees with palliative care needs.

We have all been deeply affected by the humanitarian crises around the world and the pictures of the suffering of so many who have the misfortune to live in regions destroyed by war; forced to become refugees, living in tents in neighbouring countries and dependent on UN and other aid agencies to provide for their basic needs and health care.

Recent information tells us that people live in refugee camps for many years. There must be many who are living with cancer, organ failure, and other life-limiting conditions, and this must include children, older persons, and those living with disabilities – increasing their vulnerability and surely leading to a higher, and earlier, mortality.

As the palliative care community, with skills, knowledge, compassion and access to a global network of support, we could and should be there.

How and in what form we get there is the challenge.

Read the full article: http://www.icpcn.org/war-and-refugees-the-challenge-to-palliative-care-2/