Import and safe distribution of oral morphine for pain relief in Uganda.(Access to Medicines)

Early beginnings of palliative care

With support from friends in the United Kingdom, Dr Anne Merriman introduced palliative care to Uganda in 1993 based on methods of dealing with severe pain originally devised at St. Christopher's Hospice, London. Her vision was to relieve the suffering of people with serious illnesses such as cancer. Relying on WHO Foundation measures to initiate a palliative care programme and with political support from the Government, Dr Merriman was able to advocate availability of oral morphine.

As a consequence, oral morphine was registered by the National Drug Authority (NDA) for the first time in 1993 and powdered morphine sulphate was imported by the Government. The Programme embarked on education, training and offering a service to the people of Uganda. Initially, it addressed cases of severe pain arising from cancer. Later, it was called upon to help patients with AIDS and cancer arising from HIV infection through adaptation of measures used for cancer pain management. Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU), in Kampala, is now an outstanding health centre offering clinical management for severe pain and training of health professionals in this new specialty …