Count Me In: Pain & Palliative Project

Background

In Nigeria, over 50% of women with cancer endure severe pain, with limited access to palliative care services. Due to late-stage diagnoses, pain management is crucial yet remains underfunded and largely unavailable. Currently, fewer than 50% of oncology centers in Nigeria have dedicated palliative care units, resulting in preventable suffering, especially among marginalized women with gynecologic cancers.

Project Description

The “Count Me In: Pain & Palliative Project,” implemented by Project PINK BLUE, seeks to address the gap in pain management and palliative care for women with gynecologic cancers. This initiative will establish a dedicated unit at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), provide healthcare worker training, conduct policy advocacy, and implement a pilot intervention program to enhance access to palliative care.

Goal

To promote equity and access to pain management and palliative care for marginalized women living with gynecologic cancers through advocacy, training, and pilot intervention in Gwagwalada by December 2025.

Objectives

• To engage patients to speak up on the inequities of access to pain and palliative care through the hosting of a high-level policy advocacy meeting and the use of research to investigate the experiences with pain among 200 patients by December 2025.
• To train 32 cancer healthcare workers (professionals) in pain management and palliative care services by December 2025.
• To pilot the implementation of a pain and palliative care program through the establishment of a unit at the UATH by December 2025

References

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 2022
• World Health Organization, Palliative Care Guidelines
• National Cancer Control Plan (2023-2027)
• Project PINK BLUE Reports & Research Studies