Support for #HATSON4CPC – Friday 11 October was a day for raising international awareness of the work of children’s hospices and children’s palliative care (CPC) services worldwide. So Hospice Plett staff and volunteers in the Hospice Plett Charity Shop showed off their support.

WHAT IS THE DAY ABOUT?

The day aims to raise funds for children’s palliative care, but more importantly, to raise awareness of the rights of very sick children with incurable and life-threatening illnesses to receive palliative care.

We know that there are in excess of 21 million children in the world who live with a life-limiting illness or condition that will or could drastically shorten their lives.

Existing services are mostly in the developed world. Those in the developing world are often underfunded and inadequate to meet the overwhelming need. As a result, millions of children have a poor quality of life and suffer from pain and other distressing symptoms which could be controlled and significantly improved with palliative care.

WHAT IS CHILDREN’S PALLIATIVE CARE?

Children’s palliative care (CPC) is holistic care that responds to the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of a child with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness as well as providing care for the child’s family. It aims to provide expert pain relief and symptom control and whatever emotional, social and spiritual support is required to enable the affected child to enjoy the best quality of life possible in the circumstances. When necessary, it supports the child at the end of life and continues to care for the bereaved family members for as long as is needed. This care is provided by a compassionate team of people who all wear different, and sometimes many, hats!

Visit http://www.icpcn.org/hatson4cpc/ for more information.