"Good quality palliative care is essential and a basic right for any child with a serious illness," said Dr Aburn.
"It is essential we support our paediatric colleagues in the Pacific to develop Paediatric Palliative Care support, so every child with serious illness has access to care that optimises their comfort and quality of life, support to reach their full potential and end of life care that ensures children are able to die in the location of their family’s choosing, with appropriate medical, nursing and psychosocial support."
Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group Life Member and Board Director, Sir Collin Tukuitonga KNZM, who also serves as UoA Associate Professor and Associate Dean Pacific for the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, is part of the leadership of the initiative, and emphasises the importance of the skills being cultivated through this programme.
"Quality palliative and end-of-life care is essential for children and their families. It is important to support them and their caregivers during this difficult time.”
Retired paediatric oncologist and PMA member, Dr Jane Skeen, who has a long history of work in the Pacific, shares some of its long term objectives.
"This programme will allow more pacific health professionals , especially nurses, allied health , community workers, NGOs, ensuring those providing direct care to children and families have the opportunity to attend and develop knowledge and skills in Paediatric Palliative Care."
Through the NZMTS, which is funded by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, PMA supported the attendance of Pacific health professionals such as Dr. Ashwin Sundar, a senior paediatrics doctor from Lautoka Hospital in Fiji.
“I think it's the first time we have been invited and have come across a training or a seminar that is for palliative care itself. We have really struggled over the last many years to define this care and bring it to the children and the families," shares Dr Sundar.
"I think this is very helpful for me because I'm leading the team. The programme provides me more knowledge to help look after our children and patients."
Dr. Mele Pomale, a paediatric registrar from Tonga, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to learn and grow in her capacity to care for children with terminal illnesses.
“At home, we look after children with diseases that are on palliative care, and I think there will be a lot of things that I can learn from this. I have already learnt about the impact of the language that we use, because sometimes we give them a doom and gloom diagnosis.
"We need to be able to emphasise the living aspect of it - how they live with the disease and how they cope at home.”
Participants were also privileged to hear from palliative care champion, Sina Kami of the Walk On Walk Strong Kids charity from Tonga.
Ms Kami spoke with a purpose, sharing the story of her late daughter, Tai Kami and the profound effect of palliative care.
"We look to you, trainers, to help us tailor the narrative for these parents. The story of dying, from when you receive the news until the day, should be built on the quality of life. We at WOWS Kids, support these children from the beginning until the day that they die. This care is important, and whatever skills and knowledge you have, we will take back with us.
"We are here for a short time; we don’t know when we are going, but at least we know we did something right.”
The PMA is proud to support the Pacific Paediatric Palliative Care Education Programme, through representation from Pacific health professionals. The initiative speaks to the NZMTS priority of strengthening health workforce capacity through training, the development of systems and protocols.
