Global Partners in Care has awarded our partners, Hospice of the North Coast (located in Carlsbad, California) and Nkhoma Mission Hospital (located in Lilongwe, Malawi), the 2021 Global Partnership Award. The award was presented during the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s annual Leadership and Advocacy Conference on Monday, March 7, 2022.
The Global Partnership Award recognizes the outstanding efforts of this partnership that has demonstrated the core values of a true partnership: commitment to building a strong relationship, partner collaboration, staff contribution and commitment, and community outreach and involvement.
“Being involved in this partnership has enhanced morale and is a way to be engaged in our organization,” noted Sharon Lutz, executive director of Hospice of the North Coast. “There are no borders with palliative and hospice care. It’s humanity. It reaches across any border and the fact that we get to be a part of it is amazing.” In accepting the award, she reiterated that “Palliative and hospice care have no borders. People are in need and they need to die with... compassion, love and dignity.”
In learning they had won the award, Dr. Sam Kabota, advocacy and liaison officer, at Nkhoma Mission Hospital shared this about the partnership. “There’s an African proverb: if you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go FAR then go with others… we have chosen to go far with Hospice of the North Coast in these troubled times of cyclones, COVID-19 and extreme poverty amongst our palliative care patients and their guardians.”
Lutz shared Kabota’s remarks at the award ceremony: “We don’t take this for granted. We thank GPIC for the support given to us and acting as a go between and making sure that all is well. We dedicate this award to our patients and guardians in our community and we intend to use the funds attached to the award to have a day care with some of our patients. Thank you to GPIC and our beloved partner, HNC.”
GPIC presented the award together with NHPCO CEO, Edo Banach, who also gave a special call out to Caring Circle and Our Lady’s Hospice, winners of the 2019 Global Partnership Award. That award was presented virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Banach, who spoke of massive need globally for palliative care, also encouraged US hospice and palliative care organizations to consider engaging with GPIC – not only to help meet that need, but for the benefit of US organizations and their employees as well. In encouraging participation in GPIC, he said “If you don’t give your folks access to the perspective that comes with the provision of care in other countries you are really doing yourself and your employees a disservice.”
The award was also presented to partners at the African Palliative Care Conference in Kampala, Uganda which allowed the team from Nkhoma to receive recognition in person.
