The True Colours Trust grant awards to support palliative care services across Africa has been announced. Of the 150 applications representing 19 countries in Africa, a total of eight grantees were selected from South Africa, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda.

In sub-Saharan Africa it is estimated that there are 22 million people living with HIV and that the number of people with cancer will double in the next twenty years, according to the True Colours Trust. 

To support the development of a regional infrastructure for palliative care in Africa, the Trust has been providing small grants to support the efforts of grass root organisations since 2005, in partnership with the African Palliative Care Association. 

Last week, the 6th round of awards was announced, amounting to £25,007 in total. From the 150 applications representing 19 countries in Africa, a total of eight grantees were selected from South Africa, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda, covering a broad range of health service organisations and hospitals offering a wide range of palliative care services. 

The True Colours Trust priority areas for small grants funding include (in no particular order):

1. Equipment for patients (beds, wheelchairs, etc.)
2. Innovative projects for paediatric services (this could include purchasing toys)
3. Palliative care medicines 
4. Capital improvement costs (such as adapting buildings to improve the patient experience)
5. Increasing access to palliative care in rural areas
6. Training courses for palliative care service providers held in Africa (training content must be provided and course should be accredited by a competent authority). 

Applications were reviewed by the True Colours Trust board together with the Trust Executive, Jo Ecclestone. Funding priority was given to projects that directly improved the patient experience and the standard of palliative care services.

"We were delighted to see such high quality applications from countries across the continent this round," noted the Trust Executive, Jo Ecclestone.

Watch this space for organisational profiles of the selected grant recipients.