The Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC) is urging South Africans to support its donation drive for fuel, in commemoration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day which takes place today.

This year’s theme is ‘Compassionate communities: Together for palliative care’, and this is exactly what the APCC hopes to achieve by raising funds for fuel for its members – non-profit organisations, of which many are hospices.

Palliative care covers conditions such as HIV/Aids, drug-resistant TB, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases, and motor neurone diseases, among others.

“APCC’s members work alongside compassionate communities that multiply their ability to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities,” says Ewa Skowronska, the CEO of the APCC.

“Anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis should have access to the care and support required to navigate their journey – whether that be curative or end-of-life,” she adds.

In South Africa, most palliative care services are offered via APCC member organisations that are reliant on fundraising for their sustainability.

“Ninety percent of these services are provided in patient’s homes, by home-based care teams that provide holistic support to people diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, and their loved ones,” says Leigh Meinert, APCC’s advocacy and operations manager.

“Rising fuel costs are impacting APCC members’ ability to travel to and from patients’ homes,” she adds.

Comfort Kagiso, the fundraiser for Rustenburg-based Tshupe Hospice, explains that when there’s no money for petrol, the hospice’s care team sets off on foot to nearby townships, which are up to 5kms away. Often, she says, they do not feel safe.

“Another consequence of not having money for fuel is that we are unable to transport patients to the clinic or local hospital, which is 9kms away,” she adds.

APCC members offer services to patients who have private healthcare support and those who do not.

“In the latter cases, the cost is borne by our member organisation and funds for fuel for transport or a generator are not easy to raise,” says Meinert.

The APCC caters for adults and children, as well as their loved ones, offering psychosocial, spiritual and bereavement support, says Meinert.

“The home-based care teams fulfil a vital role in the palliative care process, and we wish to support them in the most practical way we can.”

To donate money towards fuel, click here. All proceeds will be divided equally among APCC’s 91 members across the country.