Learn Basic Skills of Palliative Care, Expert Urges

A palliative care expert, Dr Muyiwa Adeboye is urging medical practitioners to learn about the basic skills of palliative care in order to provide better care for their patients.

Dr Adeboye, a palliative and hospice expert at the St Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, United Kingdom, gave the charge in his lecture “Palliative Care in the Development of Nigeria Health System” as part of activities to marking the 60th anniversary of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.

He described palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and families of those faced with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, heart failure, chronic lung diseases, and dementia.

The expert, who remarked that palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death, stated that this form of care will ensure relief from pain and other distressing symptoms in persons with terminal illnesses.

The spiritual support, palliative care also provides, he said can help reduce the burden of the patient. Click here to read more.