The Cancer Association of Namibia is in the early stages of establishing Namibia’s first oncology palliative care centre, a specialised facility focusing on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. According to CEO Rolfs Hansen, the goal of the centre is to improve the quality of life for both patients and family members while also aligning Namibia with the rest of the world in the development of cancer care. “There are generally step-down facilities where this type of care is provided for private care patients, but the majority of our vulnerable State patients are sent home and it is up to their families to care for them until they die. In most cases, these patients’ family members lack the knowledge and skills necessary to care for their loved ones. This centre’s establishment will alleviate that burden,” he said.
