Hats on for CPC from CEO

This year the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association conference in Ottawa hosted a one-day symposium on paediatric palliative care, bringing together paediatric palliative care-providers from across the country.

We ended the day with this group photo, wearing mostly paper hats we made, in recognition of “Hats On for Paediatric Palliative Care” Awareness Day.  Every year, the world comes together on the second Friday of October to raise awareness for children’s palliative care services through the International Children’s Palliative Care Network’s (ICPCN) campaign entitled #hatson4cpc.

This year on 13 October 2022, we will celebrate and honour all children with life-limiting conditions who bravely fight and press on despite the challenges they face. This is a day of action to also celebrate the care givers and affected family members and to advocate for better quality of life and healthcare services for children with palliative care needs.

According to ICPCN’s research, it is estimated that more than 21 million children need palliative care globally and only 5% of the children who need this care can access it. Now in its ninth year, the annual campaign will be a day to unite and raise our voices and use our resources to close the gap that hinders quality paediatric palliative care. The regions most affected are the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there are limited facilities and few care givers. Recently the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflicts in the world have only exacerbated the problem. HATS ON for CPC campaign will unite everyone globally to press on and advocate for palliative care policies that include the right for children to access quality palliative care.

#emilyshouse #philipazizcentre #PalliativeCare #paediatrics #hospicecare #hospiceheroes