KAMPALA —Hospice Africa Uganda ( HAU) a local NGO, on Friday November 1, celebrated its 25th Anniversary and Re-union with a fundraising dinner.
Held at Hotel Africana in Capital, Kampala, the event brought together partners, well-wishers, medical practioners, Dr. Olaro Charles the director health services Ministry of Health who represented the Minister, Rotary members and corporate bodies to support the cause for patients in need of palliative care services in Kampala and Uganda at large.
With branches in Mbarara and Hoima, the need for the services is still on high demand following a slump in the donations.
Mr.Tom Duku, the Board Chairperson, HAU said the organization has had a formidable team that has organised the event.
Similar were held Mbarara on Saturday and in Hoima will take place on November 29.
“We are finishing in style though the percent of our budget has been cut by 50 percent from USD 1.5M to USD 600, 0000 but still have a deficit of USD 200,000.”
He added that: “Together we are going to meet the deficit and the saying that goes little by little the egg shall walk with all your support.”
Dr. Anne Merriman, the founder Hospice Africa Uganda thanked all the board members that have been there with over three being past board chairs.
“We have been financed by donors from outside. The poor are getting poorer and the richer are getting richer and most of our patients are poor. Palliative care helps to live with life limiting illnes like Cancer, AIDS among others. These are all our friends and every body who steps on the door is welcome. Coming from alot of hardships from the past and I think we need Ugandans too to start raising funds because the donnors are in recess and cutting their funds.” Dr. Anne noted.
She also revealead that most of them are worried by these corruption cases and scandals in the media and encouraged those that can afford to make it a point to contribute monthly or whenever they find it possible.
Dr. Anne contended that at HAU teaches patients how to use Morphine but they do not have addicts as per the funny stories circulating around.
“My first interaction was in 1994 after our father got Pheumonia and I remember seeing him die all changed. I called Anne when we were in the cancer ward .She said come now, and was able to get medicine that was immediate. Our father lived more years and he was not addicted, Mrs. Naomi , Rutamwebwa Nasasira, who was the guest of honor remarked.
Indeed, fundraising was the core business for the evening, there were raffle tickets for sale, merchandise and off course auctioning of live Souvenior paintings by Rolands Tibirusya.
Meanwhile, 25 years of growth and dedicated service in palliative care services could not vanish in thin air without recognising outstanding personalites not forgetting stellar performances from Harmonics Uganda , an Acapella group , Zanzi Band and Racheal Magola that were an icing on the cake
Awarded
Joan Kelly
Anne Merriman
Naomi R. Nasasira
Late Sam Frobisher Owori.
Pius Bahemuka
