title: The Zimbabwe Rural Palliative Care Initiative: PCI-Z.
abstract: The Zimbabwe Rural Palliative Care Initiative is a program to increase access and expand palliative care in rural Zimbabwe. The goal was to add palliative care to existing home-based care teams comprising indigenous rural volunteers. Palliative care expertise is being developed through training and ongoing mentorship provided by Island Hospice Service, headquartered in the capital city of Harare. Specific outcomes relative to palliative care are reported, using the African Palliative Care Association African Palliative Outcome Scale, the Karnofsky Performance Scale, and a Supervision and Mentorship Checklist. Positive impact is documented, and there is significant opportunity for similar outcomes on a national scale.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, USA. pdisorbo@fhssa.org
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Di Sorbo
authors.forename: Dickson D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Chifamba
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mastrojohn
authors.forename: Chenjerai N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sisimayi
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D012424:Rural Population; D015030:Zimbabwe