Cape Town
The estimated prevalence of chronic illness in children in South African children is 20%.[i] A chronic condition is one that is expected to last at least one year. Approximately 1/5 of these children will have life-limiting or life threatening condition requiring palliative care. A rough estimate of the number of children living with a chronic illness in the Western Cape based on the mid-year (2009) population census for the Western Cape is 397 580 (20% of the 1 987 900 children living in the Western Cape). Approximately 7 9 516 of these children (1/5) would require palliative care. Chronic non-communicable diseases (eg liver, renal and neurological conditions, genetic diseases and congenital abnormalities) are the predominant reason for admission to paediatric palliative care programmes in the developed world but are also important in developing countries. Developing countries however also carry a high burden of communicable chronic disorders such as HIV and TB. Although the Western Cape has a lower ANC prevalence for HIV (14%) than other provinces, the province has the highest TB infection rate (441/100 000/year) in the country. TB is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western Cape and MDR or XDR TB may in some cases be incurable.
As outlined in the WHO definition of palliative care for children, palliative care is a philosophy of care that can be practiced in any setting (including tertiary care settings, the community and the child’s own home) and can be implemented even if resources are limited.
- Dr Michelle Meiring (Founder of Bigshoes)
[i] Policy framework for non-communicable chronic conditions in childhood. National Department of Health.