Sons + Fathers, raising funds for Hospice Africa Uganda

Embassy of Ireland in Kampala hosts a launch for star-studded international book, sons + fathers, to raise vital funds for Hospice Africa Uganda

The Irish Embassy in Kampala hosted a special event on January 20th aimed at raising funds from the sale of sons + fathers on behalf of Hospice Africa Uganda (HAU). HAU is a registered charity whose mission is to bring peace through pain relief to all who need it in Africa.

Sons + fathers is a star-studded, international book celebrating the unique relationship between sons and their dads. This beautifully produced, high-quality hardback includes contributions from world-famous writers, actors, artists, musicians, politicians and entrepreneurs including Bono and all members of the rock group U2, President Bill Clinton, Bob Geldof, Daniel day-Lewis, Salman Rushdie, and many more.

Set up by the inspirational Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr. Anne Merriman in 1993, HAU is this year facing a funding crisis which is threatening the services it offers. Every book sold makes a difference by providing care and pain relief for a week for a sick patient nearing end of life. More information on HAU can be found here: www.hospiceafrica.or.ug

Some facts from HAU:

• Only 5% of cancer patients in Africa today have access to treatment, making palliative care so important
• HAU is currently providing care to over 2,000 seriously ill patients per month, through its three centers in Uganda. But there are thousands and thousands in Africa and Uganda who are still not receiving pain relief and palliative care.
• HAU manufactures oral liquid morphine at a special facility at its headquarters in Kampala. (It is currently producing all oral liquid morphine, funded by the Ministry of Health, for all in need in Uganda). This provides pain relief for patients and helps to stabilize their condition, allowing them to “live until they die”.
• HAU provides vital training and education in palliative care to doctors, nurses and care workers every year so that palliative care services can expand throughout Uganda and Africa.
• HAU is working with other African countries through its international programmes to achieve the founding mission to provide palliative care for all who need it in Africa.
• HAU is entirely dependent on the generosity and goodwill of donors to exist.
• HAU is this year facing a funding shortfall of 60 per cent.