From a small circle of passionate advocates to a national movement, the Centre for Palliative Care, Nigeria (CPCN) celebrates two decades of bringing dignity and hope to thousands facing life-limiting illnesses.
Twenty-seven years ago, a modest gathering of healthcare professionals in Ibadan made a promise: no Nigerian should endure unbearable pain in silence. That conviction led to the inauguration of the Society for the Study of Pain, the Palliative Care Initiative, and later, the official registration of CPCN in 2005.
“We celebrate a story of impact, compassion, and resilience the story of CPCN,” says Prof. Olaitan Soyannwo, Founder and President. “What began as a small circle of passionate professionals has grown into a national force transforming how Nigeria cares for those facing life-limiting illnesses.”
The initiative was sparked in 1995 when Prof. Soyannwo and her colleagues witnessed devastating pain in patients with advanced cancer, surgery, and major trauma. Their initial meetings, often held in Prof. Soyannwo’s home, were fueled by the conviction that every patient deserves pain relief and dignity.
CPCN’s most significant breakthrough addressed Nigeria’s critical pain medication access crisis. For five years, oral morphine and other strong pain relief medications were unavailable, leaving patients in unimaginable suffering.
“Through relentless advocacy, training, and partnerships, we have brought relief to countless patients, restored dignity to families, and changed the narrative of pain management in our health system,” Prof. Soyannwo notes.
Working with the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC, CPCN championed national guidelines that ensured the consistent supply and safe use of oral morphine. Today, these essential medications are available, bringing relief to thousands nationwide.
Over the last two decades, CPCN has trained hundreds of healthcare professionals from hospitals across states. Many of these beneficiaries now lead palliative care units in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, providing total pain relief that encompasses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families.
The organization has collaborated with eight teaching hospitals to introduce culturally appropriate care models and partnered internationally with organizations like the African Palliative Care Association, Global Partners in Care, and MD Anderson Centre, alongside the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HPCAN).
The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Prof. Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, affirms: “Palliative care has come to stay in Nigeria.”
This permanence is clearly seen at the University of Ibadan, which now offers palliative care programs from BSc to PhD a remarkable evolution from when only the University College Hospital (UCH) provided clinical services. The volunteer unit at UCH has since grown into a full-fledged department, staffed mostly by CPCN members and training beneficiaries.
“Yet, our journey is far from over,” Prof. Soyannwo declares. CPCN is currently constructing a permanent facility featuring a clinic, a training center, and a respite care unit, with completion at 30%.
Looking ahead, the organization plans to expand its focus to elderly care and non-cancer illnesses while embracing telemedicine and digital health innovations to reach more people.
