ABSTRACT
The global children's hospice and palliative care movement is growing significantly to meet the increasing need for service development worldwide, largely as a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Organisations such as Family Health International and the Hospice and Palliative Care of South Africa have developed their own standard operating procedures for children's palliative care and these are used widely within individual organisations. Organisations also use the IMRaCCT standards and the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) Charter. A programme of expertise-sharing through the awarding of scholarships and bursaries has been launched, focusing initially on paediatric palliative care leaders in resource-poor countries. The ICPCN is a part of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance where it represents the voice of children. It is administered from the Cape Town offices of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa and is coordinated by an International Information Officer.
