Kinshasa, August 3rd, 2025 (CPA).- The investment in continuing education programmes in palliative care has been considered as a necessity to enhance the well-being of nurses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to an expert in the field, during an interview on Saturday in Kinshasa. « A strategic investment in continuing education programmes in palliative care and the promotion of a collaborative working environment are necessary to improve the well-being of nurses », has declared Emilie Mbolo, an expert in palliative care. She has pointed out that palliative care providers work in a particularly complex context in DRC. They are frequently faced with ethical dilemmas in difficult situations. ‘They are forced to choose between efficiency, productivity and technology, when they would prefer to prioritise the human values of self-determination and solidarity.’ For this expert, it is essential to guarantee institutional and financial support for palliative care, improve access to training, and strengthen interprofessional teams to improve access to training on the one hand, and interprofessional teams to improve the quality of care in this crucial area on the other. The author of a final thesis for her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Kinshasa (Unikin), she has explained that her scientific work has been focused on ‘nurses’ perceptions and expectations of continuing education in palliative care.’
For her, the results of her study have revealed a strong need for continuing education in palliative care as well as significant challenges in practice, such as a lack of resources for patients and caregivers. She has however, stressed that it is essential to ensure institutional and financial support for palliative care, improve access to training and strengthen interprofessional teams in order to improve the quality of care in this crucial area. ‘The obstacles identified, such as inadequate patient follow-up and financial constraints, highlight the urgent need to optimise palliative care systems in DRC. An integrated approach supported by proactive government intervention appears essential to ensure adequate access to care and the necessary resources,’ she has explained. This approach of investing in continuing education programmes in palliative care will contribute significantly to improving the quality of care provided to terminally ill patients, according to the source. CPA /Lusamba & Makulu/PN/RS