Researchers from the ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care of the University of Navarra have visited Benin together with authorities from the World Health Organization (WHO) to apply through a pilot test a set of palliative care indicators adapted to their cultural and health context. It is developed with the national health authorities and Education, the Five-Year Palliative Care Plan and the association Béninoise de Soins Palliatifs.

The conceptual model of "the house of palliative care" has six components: the capacity of society and individuals to promote it; the capacity of governments to implement it with appropriate health policies; the research, which generates the scientific evidence to practice advanced medicine; the health professionals prepared and trained from the Degree; the availability of essential medicines and morphine to relieve suffering; and the development of integrated palliative care services within national health systems to meet the needs of patients and their families.

This model was developed by ATLANTES of Institute for Culture and Society (ICS), as a center partner of the WHO. It is deployed in development indicators, which allow monitoring and evaluation of agreement palliative care with the resources and capacities of each region. 

Institutional visits and hybrid workshop

On the first day, the commission toured the facilities of the Hubert K. Maga National University Hospital Center and took a close look at the Pharmacy Service, where morphine solution is prepared for patients with advanced diseases. She also visited the School of Nursing and the new Palliative Care Unit, which will be inaugurated soon. She was also received by representatives of the WHO Regional Office in Benin.

Along with the institutional visits, a two-day hybrid workshop was organized in Contonou, the economic capital and headquarters of government. It was inaugurated by the representative of the Minister of Health of the African country and coordinated by ATLANTES experts: Carlos Centeno, his director; researcher Vilma Tripodoro and technician Eduardo Garralda. National referents, health and educational authorities and members of the WHO participated.

The hybrid workshop was coordinated by ATLANTES experts: Carlos Centeno, his director; researcher Vilma Tripodoro and technician Eduardo Garralda.
Photo: Courtesy

Throughout meeting , the currentstatus of development palliative care in Benin was reviewed with the projection of the Five-Year Plan until 2026 and a joint review of the WHO set of indicators and their implementation in the specific context of the country was carried out.

The ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care of the ICS is framed in the line of research of Palliative Medicine of the University of Navarra, one of the main axes of its Strategy 2025. In 2022 it was designated partner center of the WHO for the global monitoring of the development palliative care. Some of the assignments it is currently developing for the Organization are the monitoring of some countries such as Benin and Morocco in subject of palliative care; future projects of regional assessment of this specialization program; and cooperation with other collaborating centers.