St Anne’s Hospice in Abuja Nigeria celebrated their grand opening on Monday December 19^th.  They will begin taking their first patient on January 6.  Sister Ann called today and wanted to thank all of us for our support with this very special project and to wish all of us a very special holiday season.  She is sending pictures and we will post as soon as we receive them.  We are so very proud of her accomplishment and thankful that we were able to help.

Sister Oshieza Otonoku (Sister Ann) provides Hospice and palliative care to the terminally ill in Abuja, the Federal Capital City Nigeria in west Africa.

Sister Ann is a member of the Congregation of the Holy Child Jesus who care for the sick  and teach at all levels with special attention to children, women, the poor and disabled.  Sister Ann is a native of Nigeria and understands the desperate need for Hospice care to alleviate pain and suffering at the end of life.

Hospice of Citrus County adopted St. Anne’s Hospice in early 2007 and provides ongoing education and technical support for the project.  St. Ann’s Hospice was registered with Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission in 2007 and is a charitable hospice which provides home based and inpatient care as well as grief support and burial assistance.  They partner with St. Mary’s Hospital in Gwagwalada. Abuja.

The exterior walls and roof of the new 6-bed Hospice House are complete.  Lighting fixtures, plumbing supplies, flooring, and furnishings are needed for completion.  Household supplies and medical supplies are needed for patient care.  Donated Items may be new or used. 

·       St. Ann’s Hospice in Abuja, Nigeria provides specialized end-of-life care for patients of any age with life threatening illness (cancer, congestive heart failure, liver disease, diabetes, renal failure etc.). Families of the bereaved also benefit from our counseling and support services. We address the physical, spiritual, emotional and practical needs of the patient.  Services are provided by a team of professionals. St. Ann’s hospice is run as charity organization. We offer services based on need rather than the ability to pay. Therefore rely on generosity of people, appeals, donations, legacies etc.

Who and How many would benefit?
We welcome people of every race, colour, faith or philosophy.
People within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria (that is Abuja and the Satellite towns) already benefit from the project.

Population census estimates FCT population at 1.2million.

St. Ann’s hospice is run as charity organization. We offer services based on need rather than the ability to pay. Therefore rely on generosity of people, appeals, donations, legacies etc.

OUR APPROACH

Home Based Care – Most patients prefer to remain at home. We support them in the comfort of their homes. We take equipment and care to their homes.

Day Centre – Offers wide range of creative activities.

In – Patient Facility – To build a hospice as a place to be when symptoms cannot be managed at home. (At present we use the inpatient facility of National Hospital, Abuja).

Grief and Loss – Provide support to enable people share painful feelings.

Benefits to your Organization (ABUTH Hospital)

In a period of two years of our existence, we have worked closely with national Hospital, Garki Hospital for referrals and care of their palliative/hospice patients giving complimentary care. With the home care approach, we continue your care 24hrs, 7 days a week and report back to their consultants.

You have available bed space that is always in high demand for other patients.

Your patients who do not have primary care givers at home have benefited from our service by attending to their practical needs and total care. We provide bereavement support for a period of 12 – 15 months and report back to their consultants. Many more.

Benefits to patients

It is of no cost to patients. (Our services are free to patients and their carers). Our interdisciplinary team offer professional along with quality care management of pain and other symptoms, we also attend to their psychological needs and give practical help. It reduces unnecessary movement to and from hospital.

Where we are now!

While we continue to deliver services in hospitals, at patients’ homes, offer bereavement counseling, bury the dead etc; we are building an inpatient facility (hospice) in a small piece of land in Gwagwalada. We are a building a 7 bedroom bungalow (with three of the rooms ensuite), there is also provision for lounges, 2 offices, laundry, kitchen. We will also construct an underground water reservoir, build a gate house/construct a gate, build a generator house and construct parking slots. We will equip and furnish with quality materials.