In India, Dispensers of Balm Travel to Death's Door

Mongolia, under the influence of Dr. Odontuya Davaasuren, has become very advanced in its palliative care. Patients are given full information about their diagnosis, are provided with the proper pain medications, families are involved and guided and spiritual considerations are included creating a better system of care.

Amid high rates of breast and cervical cancer, Rays of Hope Hospice expanded beyond traditional end-of-life care to include cancer prevention services, providing cervical and breast cancer screenings in rural areas, on-site treatment for precancerous lesions, community education on HPV vaccines, and vaccination distribution to young girls. Since launching its efforts in 2018, the organization has conducted nearly 29,000 cancer screenings for cervical and breast cancer and has helped vaccinate more than 47,000 girls against HPV. The story was supported by a grant from the Pulitzer Center.

The INN Between is a hospice center for people who are homeless, ensuring those who are terminally ill and unhoused don’t die alone or on the streets. The building first opened in 2015, providing palliative care, food, medication, a bed and community to those who need it most. Since opening, the center has supported 122 people through their final moments.

End-of-life doulas, or death doulas, are non-medical aides that help guide people through the process of dying. Death doulas provide various forms of support to dying people and their families like death planning and listening to grieving loved ones. The National End-of-Life Doula Alliance currently has more than 1,500 members worldwide, a 300-person increase from 2019 when the nonprofit was formed.

Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians with disabilities or limited access to affordable medical care have been enrolled in a new health insurance program that helps alleviate the financial burden of health services. Funding for the insurance program is split between federal and state governments, and while the quality of services can be inconsistent, proactive government outreach has boosted enrollment numbers.

Ryan House is one of three pediatric hospice homes in the United States and provides respite, palliative care and hospice to children with life-limiting illnesses. Staff at Ryan House focus on creating positive experiences and memories, while simultaneously supporting family members and connecting them with other families that share in their experiences. To date, Ryan House has helped more than 1,000 children and their families.

The Advanced Illness Care Program was founded within local Black churches and offers free, individualized support for people with advanced illnesses and their caregivers, helping them navigate various life and health issues and plan for end-of-life care. Since starting in 2015, the AICP has helped more than 1,600 patients, the majority of which are Black, and 55% of them have gone on to complete advance directives for end-of-life care.

Access to medical resources improves the effectiveness of health centers. In the village of Fuka, in Nigeria’s Niger State, NGOs such as the RAiSE Foundation and TY Danjuma Foundation have stepped in to support the local Primary Health Centre (PHC). Multiple initiatives, including home visits and the distribution of mosquito nets, have built relationships with the community; the most successful aspects have been the Mama Kit, given free of charge to pregnant women at the PHC, and the donation of an emergency ambulatory tricycle.

AFRIpads was started in order to provide reusable sanitary pads to women in Uganda who were otherwise using unsanitary local materials and experiencing discomfort and health issues. AFRIpads is a cost friendly and effective alternative that is having a growing impact on African women.

Hidalgo Medical Services is a nonprofit public health clinic that has set out to develop a model for delivering quality, affordable health care to rural communities through a comprehensive approach that addresses multiple patient needs at once.