Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa (FHSSA)

FHSSA’s mission is to support organizations in their development and provision of hospice and palliative care initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Hospice and palliative care programs in Africa provide interdisciplinary care to terminally ill patients and their families.  As in the United States, the majority of this care and support is given to the patient as home-based care.  Services provided by the supportive care team include:

• pain and symptom management
• supplemental nutrition and vitamins
• psychological and spiritual support
• bereavement counseling
• orphan care planning

In addition, families and community care workers are taught ways to provide for the personal care needs of the patient, methods for preventing HIV/AIDS transmission, and  information to dispel the myths surrounding the disease. 

FHSSA’s vision is for all people who are affected by HIV/AIDS to have access to and to receive quality palliative and end-of-life care.

FHSSA's strategic plan focuses on partnerships, resource management, technical support and advocacy.

Success Stories:

• Zimbabwe Rural Palliative Care Initiative (PCI-Z) Launched
• Direct Relief International increases aid
• Continuum of Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (CHAT) provides support to the vulnerable children
• First Global Friend of FHSSA Holds Successful Medical Supply Drive
• Four South African Staff Visit Their Partner Programs in Northern Wisconsin: The work we do is the same

FHSSA was incorporated in 1999 to help generate resources and technical support for hospice organizations in sub-Saharan Africa. Current efforts are focused on the FHSSA Partnership Initiative that matches U.S. hospices with care providers in sub-Saharan Africa to form mutually beneficial relationships between the organizations. These Partnerships are intended to provide on-going support and mutual advancement of hospice and palliative care internationally, and to provide education and support to programs and professionals in other countries. FHSSA is affiliated with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Hospice Foundation.

Adapted with permission from the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa website, February 2009.

To learn more, please visit http://www.FHSSA.org.