The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HPCAN) has held its 18th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, Abuja, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening palliative care services through compassionate, holistic, and patient-centred healthcare delivery across the country.
The conference, themed “Strengthening Palliative Care in Nigeria: The Total Psychosocial Well-being of the Patient,” focused on addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of individuals living with serious and life-limiting illnesses.
The event also featured sub-themes such as “The Role of Government and Policymakers in Palliative Care” and “Community Involvement in Palliative Care,” highlighting the collective responsibility required to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
The three-day conference, held from July 1 to 3, 2026, attracted participants from healthcare institutions, professional associations, academic bodies, and partner organisations within and outside Nigeria.
Addressing participants during the opening ceremony, HPCAN President, Prof. Tonia Onyeka, described the conference as an important platform for engaging with renowned national and international experts, sharing emerging evidence, learning from successful models, strengthening collaborations, and developing practical strategies for advancing palliative care throughout Nigeria.
She urged governments at the federal, state, and local levels to recognise palliative care not as an optional service, but as an indispensable component of a responsive, equitable, and people-centred healthcare system.
“Every Nigerian living with serious illness deserves compassionate care that preserves dignity and alleviates suffering, regardless of geographical location or socioeconomic status,” she said.
Prof. Onyeka noted that the conference theme challenges healthcare providers to move beyond diseases, diagnoses, medications, and procedures, and instead focus on the total well-being of individuals facing serious health conditions.
According to her, patients with life-limiting illnesses often contend with anxiety, depression, fear, uncertainty, social isolation, financial hardship, family disruptions, spiritual distress, and the emotional burden associated with an uncertain future.
“This conference therefore calls upon all of us to reaffirm one of the foundational principles of palliative care—that every person deserves care that attends not only to the body, but also to the mind, the family, the community, and the spirit,” she stated.
She encouraged participants to contribute meaningfully to discussions, challenge conventional approaches, forge new partnerships, and return to their institutions inspired to translate knowledge into impactful action.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of the HPCAN Abuja Chapter and Local Organising Committee (LOC), Prof. Felicia Asudo, described the conference as both timely and significant, coming at a crucial stage in the development of palliative care services in Nigeria.
She observed that there is increasing recognition that quality healthcare cannot be complete without compassionate, holistic, and patient-centred services that uphold the dignity of every individual.
Prof. Asudo stressed that palliative care bridges the gap between medical treatment and humane support, ensuring that patients do not suffer unnecessarily and that care is delivered with empathy, respect, and excellence.
“This conference is not merely a gathering of professionals; it is a meeting of advocates, educators, policymakers, researchers, volunteers, and caregivers united by a common purpose—to relieve suffering and restore hope,” she said.
She added that participants would engage in scientific sessions, practical workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening clinical practice, education, research, advocacy, and policy development in hospice and palliative care.
“As we deliberate, let us remember that behind every statistic is a patient, behind every diagnosis is a family, and behind every challenge is an opportunity for collaboration and innovation.
“The conversations we have here will influence clinical practice, education, research, advocacy, and policy long after this conference concludes,” she added.
The annual gathering reaffirmed HPCAN’s unwavering commitment to promoting accessible, comprehensive, and compassionate palliative care services across Nigeria. It also provided a strategic platform for strengthening partnerships and collaborations aimed at enhancing the psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life of patients and their families.
The conference further underscored the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to palliative care, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, academics, and advocates to exchange knowledge, share best practices, and develop sustainable solutions for the future of hospice and palliative care in Nigeria.
One of the major highlights of the event was the presentation of several books and scholarly publications on palliative care development and practice. The works, authored by distinguished healthcare professionals from various institutions across the country, explored innovative strategies for strengthening palliative care delivery, improving psychosocial support systems, and advancing patient-centred care nationwide.
The conference once again demonstrated HPCAN’s leadership role in championing policies, partnerships, and professional development initiatives that place compassion, dignity, and the holistic well-being of patients at the centre of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.