Think pain meds are hard to get here? Try getting some in Uganda

Uganda is a small land-locked country in eastern Africa that has seen more than its share of troubles. Setting political issues aside, the rising rate of disease calls for more health care, including the need for pain control.

Although much of the focus on health care and palliative care in Africa is on people who are dying of AIDS-related disease, those who are dying from cancer are suffering unnecessarily, in the opinion of the World Health Organization (WHO). Unlike the Western world, in Africa, people aren’t diagnosed with cancer in the early stages where it can be treated. Instead, they are often diagnosed when the cancer has advanced to the point that there are no treatment options other than comfort care. However, because of the lack of palliative care, the poverty, and the lack of medications, even the comfort care, the treatment of chronic pain or cancer pain, may not be possible for many. 

Here is an eye-opening article: Uganda: Why Are Patients Not Getting Their Medicines? 

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