By Chrissie Mainjeni, Chiradzulu
Palliative Care Support Trust will, from this month to April 2026, implement a Community Caregiver Backpack Pilot Project in Chiradzulu District, targeting 100 people (50 children and 50 adults) living with terminal illnesses.
Terminal illnesses are life-limiting conditions such as cancer, stroke, and severe HIV, among others.
According to the Trust’s Executive Director, Precious Kamange, the project aims to address gaps such as mobility and financial challenges that continue to affect the delivery of palliative care.
Presenting the project proposal during a District Executive Committee meeting held at the council, Kamange noted that most palliative patients live in remote and disadvantaged areas.
As a result, he said many struggle to travel to the hospital for drug refills, cannot afford medication, and often skip treatment due to lack of food and inadequate supervision.
To address these barriers, he said the project will provide free drugs stocked in backpacks to be administered by five Community Nurses who are set to undergo training.
In addition, two guardians per patient will be mentored to help monitor treatment at home.
“All we want to achieve is managing their pain so they can live a happier life,” he said.
Besides Chiradzulu, the pilot phase will also be implemented in Zomba and Blantyre, with funding from Action Media amounting to £67,000.
Director of Health and Sanitation Services for Chiradzulu District Council, Dr Nelson Kamwana, said the project will help reach many patients who do not frequent health facilities.
Dr Kamwana revealed that out of the 2,000 patients registered at the hospital, only 125 are currently active.
