About CPCN
The Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria (CPCN) is a non-governmental and not – for – profit organization. Activities of its pioneer members commenced in 1996 and CPCN was registered as a body with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2005 (CAC/IT/19744). Its mission is to provide comprehensive hospice and palliative care services to patients and their families as well as promote palliative care education and research in Nigeria. Members include multidisciplinary health professionals and other volunteers.
CPCN has been involved with the Federal Ministry of Health and other International organizations on various aspects of Cancer care including awareness, early detection, advocacy and ongoing training of multidisciplinary Health Professionals in pain and Palliative care . The 5 week Health Professionals’ palliative care initiator’s Course usually available in Uganda was anchored in Nigeria for the first time by CPCN in 2013. Members of the organization have been at the fore-front of advocacy for availability of oral Morphine for effective and affordable cancer pain management in Nigeria. In collaboration with the University College Hospital, Ibadan in 2007, CPCN facilitated the establishment of the first Hospice and Palliative care department within a Tertiary health facility in Nigeria. The service offers holistic palliative care for adults and children in hospital, clinic and home settings.The Centre’s collaborative activities were also instrumental to the inclusion of pain and palliative care module into the revised undergraduate medical students’ curriculum of the University of Ibadan and other institutions.
CPCN has been engaged in training of over 600 health professionals in palliative care across 26 States of Nigeria and ‘start-up’ palliative care service development in hospitals including National Hospital ,Abuja, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, LadokeAkintola University teaching hospital, Oshogbo, University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.The organization also co-ordinates clinical placement/research programs on palliative care for health professionals from Nigeria and other countries. Thus CPCN has a record of accomplishment of training in palliative care for Health Professionals (including postgraduate students) and individuals/ Volunteers.. In addition, our training has been designed to build and strengthen the skills of trainees and then help them develop competencies in culturally appropriate palliative care services. The organization is also a foundation member of the Hospice and Palliative care Association, Nigeria (HPCAN)