Palliative care fundraiser for Tanzania

Hi, my name is Cathy Comerford and I am a palliative care nurse specialist here in Ottawa, Canada. I was very fortunate to be able to volunteer in Feb 2024 at the Kilamanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC). I worked with a nurse named Anna who has single handedly been running a palliative care program within the hospital and the community since 2016.

Anna not only provides palliative care to patients within the hospital but she also does home visits twice weekly. She cares for infants to the elderly, suffering from a variety of life limiting illnesses. While I was in Moshi, Tanzania the youngest I saw was 4 months old.

Tanzania does not have public health care system therefore, people must pay out of pocket for everything. Many do not undergo tests or investigations because they cannot afford the cost. Many do not receive treatments because of cost. Sadly, many do not have access to symptom management medications due to cost. Many die in pain and suffering that is unimaginable in our country.

The only pain medication available is oral morphine which costs approx. $25.00/500ml bottle cad, but many cannot afford that amount and suffer with only tylenol for their pain.

During our home visits we delivered morphine, lyrica, heart medications, wound care supplies, and food/soap to people who had nothing but a mud hut and a degrading piece of foam to sleep on. All of the supplies that Anna brings to the community are fully funded by donations.

The community is strong and does an excellent job of caring for each other but they can only do so much with the extremely limited funds and supplies that they have. Everyone should feel that they matter and they should feel that they matter to the end of their lives. People should live and die with dignity. People should be able to live as best they can until they die.

I met so many wonderful, amazing, kind souls on this trip and witnessed so much pain and suffering. Anna not only cares for the ill patients but she also cares for the family members in need. Most notably the children, who without a parental support, can no longer attend school. Anna pays for many children to be able to continue to go to school. Educating the younger generations will hopefully empower them to create a stronger healthcare system and country.

A 51 yr old woman was suffering in her home, alone, for 10 months with a cancer of her face, not diagnosed because she could not afford healthcare. The only medications she had for her pain was tylenol. She wept when we went to see her and brought her morphine, soap and rice. This is just one of many people who allowed me the honour of caring for them.

Please help me raise much needed funds for Anna, RN, at the KCMC. All funds raised will go directly to Anna who will ensure that 100% is given directly to those patients/families in need.

thank you

Cathy