Cairdeas (pronounced cardis) is a Gaelic word meaning world wide friendship and fellowship.
We are a Scottish-based charity, inspired by the challenge to serve alongside those who are vulnerable and suffering.
We work with partners involved in emerging palliative care services in developing countries; our partnerships are based on shared goals for making palliative care available to those in need, and not any other criteria or discrimination.
Find out more about us and the urgent need for palliative care in many parts of the world.
2nd-year students on the B.Sc. course in palliative care
Cairdeas Scholarship Fund
Right from the outset, the primary aim of Cairdeas has been to help build capacity for palliative care in countries where it is lacking by providing and assisting with training for health workers. This ranges from a day or week-long course, typically with one of our Indian partners such as Pallium India, through to the 1-year diploma and 3-year degree programmes in palliative care at Makerere University and Mulago Hospital in Kampala with Hospice Africa Uganda.
Unfortunately, many local doctors and nurses, though very keen and able to undertake these courses are unable to do so due to lack of finance. So in appropriate cases and where funds are available Cairdeas is providing scholarships for such students, and we have set up the Cairdeas Scholarship Fund so that we can expand this aspect of our work.
The easiest way to donate is via our dedicated page at justgiving.com/cairdeas-scholarships through which you can Gift Aid your donation which adds 25% to the value of your gift.
LIFE Before Death - Release of the Feature Film
LIFE Before Death is a documentary project comprising a feature film, a one-hour television program and 50 short films about the global crisis in untreated pain and the dramatic life-changing effect palliative care services can deliver to patients and their families around the world.
The feature film has just been released. During February the film will be screened in 27+ countries across all continents, in 10 languages.
You can pay to watch the film online.
It's also available as a DVD, and can be ordered via the lifebeforedeath.com website.
Read more about this influential project.
Palliative Care: Making A Difference Internationally
In the last two years the Primary Palliative Care Group at Edinburgh University has run one-day training seminars to encourage UK-based health care professionals to consider working overseas in palliative care.
In view of their success, this year they are running a one-week course (20-24 February) as a module of the Masters of Public Health degree at Edinburgh University, but it is also being offered as a stand-alone opportunity for palliative care clinicians and innovators to understand key global clinical and research areas in palliative care in the next 10 years.
Presented in partnership with the new journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, this course delivers a crucial insight into current practice throughout the globe, significant changes and improvements being implemented, and practical methods for enhanced research and progressive services. The presenters will include Prof Scott Murray and Dr Mhoira Leng.
Download a brochure (782 kb).
Link to http://www.lifelong.ed.ac.uk/palliativecare.
Cairdeas Annual Gathering
We held our 6th Annual Gathering on Saturday 1st October at one of our supporting churches, High Hilton Church of Scotland in Aberdeen. Following an introduction by the new chair of trustees, Andrew Tait, our Medical Director, Dr Mhoira Leng, presented a very encouraging account of how the work of Cairdeas has expanded considerably over the course of the last year and is set to continue this year. The event also included:
Key sections from the 'Freedom from Pain' documentary (see below).
Recorded interviews with Lois and Gertrude, the two nurses in the Makerere Palliative Care Unit who have received scholarships (funded from our morphine appeal) towards their taking the Diploma in Palliative Care at Makerere.
A live phone call with Dr Jo Dunn who recently returned to the UK from her year working with Cairdeas in Kampala.
A message from Dr Lesley Henson who has just taken over Jo Dunn's role.
Our trustee, Jacqui Macintosh, reported on her visit to Kampala earlier this year.
Treasurer, Katherine Burnett, outlined our healthy financial position which has enabled us to expand our work - equipping more health workers to bring effective palliative care to those in need.
All of this was followed by light refreshments during which there was ample opportunity to talk informally with Mhoira and others involved with Cairdeas, and buy Cairdeas fairly traded goods.
Many thanks to all of those who came along, and indeed to all of our supporters without whom our work could not be done.
New Clinical Lecturer appointed in Kampala
We are delighted to announce that Dr Lesley Henson will be our new Clinical Lecturer at the Makerere Palliative Care Unit in Kampala. She will take over this role in September from Dr Jo Dunn who returns to the UK to continue her specialist training in palliative care.
Read more ...
Freedom from Pain
This short (25 min) documentary powerfully portrays the unnecessary suffering which many have to endure in various countries due to the lack of availability of morphine, mainly arising from unduly restrictive regulations which have been put in place to control illicit drugs, but which all too often inadvertently restrict access to therapeutic morphine; and it challenges the relevant authorities to rectify the situation without delay.
It features Dr Rajagopal of Pallium India, with whom Cairdeas has worked for many years; and includes glimpses of our Dr Mhoira Leng, Dr Jo Dunn and Dr Liz Namukwaya at work in Uganda.
