Palliative Care for Elderly Nuns in Africa

Jean talking with 99 year old Sr Mary Rita in the Little Sisters of Sr Francis (LSOF) convent in Nkokonjeru, Uganda. Photo: Grace Gelder

While visiting Kampala in July 2023, I had a conversation with an African nun, Sr Jane Francis, Regional Provincial of the Little Sisters of Saint Francis, an African order founded by Irish woman Mother Kevin Kearney. Sr Jane Francis is responsible for the well being of the 450 nuns in her community. She described to me in graphic detail the conditions in which nuns in her community were dying – without even having basic pain relief. Her passionate appeal for palliative care for African nuns made a big impression on me.

My grandmother was a doctor and nun in Tanzania. When Sr Jane Francis outlined the lack of access to palliative comfort for the sisters, I felt a visceral response at the injustice of women who had spent their lives caring for others, suffering unnecessarily at the end of their own lives. These women could have been my grandmother’s colleagues – and after a lifetime of service, they deserve better.

With the commitment of key influencers, I believe that we can and will make change.

I am privileged to be part of a new initiative called “A Demonstration Project on Co-designing of a Model to Support the Integration of Palliative Care in the Care of Older, Nuns of Religious Orders.”

Sister Mary Rita, Sister Rose Marie and sister Jane Francis on the veranda of the convent in Nkokonjeru.
Photo: Grace Gelder

Running over two years, this work will test out the validity of a palliative care model for elderly African nuns within their communities. Once we have proven the model, the intended next step will be a conference co-hosted by the African Palliative Care Association and the Vatican Pontifical Academy for Life, championing wider palliative care for elderly religious in Africa.

I am delighted to see this project through with the hard work, collaboration and support of:

  • The African Palliative Care Association
  • Julie Ling, Technical Officer for Palliative Care at WHO
  • Jean Duff, Founding Partner, The Partnership for Faith & Development
  • Vatican Pontifical Academy for Life
  • The Rome-based International Union of Superiors General

This feels important – it’s just the beginning of an important initiative that is designed to create scalable progress.

Discussing the demonstration project on palliative care for elderly nuns were (from left) Dr Eve Namisango. Executive Director African, Palliative Care Association, Sr Jane Frances Nakafeero - Hospital Administrator Naggalama Hospital and Regional Superior of the Little Sisters of St Francis in central Uganda, Sr Mary Consolata Nakawoojwa, lead in St Kevin’s resthouse, Nkokonjeru, Sister Rita Christine Nakitende, Superior General of the Little Sisters of St. Francis (LSOSF) and Jean Callanan, Advocate for Dying Well.
Photo: Grace Gelder