Abstract:
Each year about 0.5% of the total population in Botswana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and
Zimbabwe die from HIV/AIDS or cancer. The members of a WHO project to improve palliative
care in these countries discuss their work. The greatest needs of terminally ill patients were for
adequate pain relief, accessible and affordable drugs, and financial support to counter the loss of
income of both patient and family caregiver. Special emphasis should be given to home based
palliative care provided by trained family and community caregivers to counteract the severe
shortage of professional healthcare workers
