Hospice Care Around the World: How Other Cultures Approach End-of-Life Care — Gilchrist and Nkoaranga Palliative Care
At Gilchrist, we know that the need for compassionate, quality hospice care knows no borders. Since 2009, Gilchrist has proudly partnered with Nkoaranga Palliative Care in northern Tanzania through Global Partners in Care, joining hands across continents to bring comfort, dignity, and hope to those facing serious illness.
What began as a knowledge and skill-sharing partnership became something even greater: when Nkoaranga lost its main source of financial support in 2011, Gilchrist stepped up to fully fund the program’s annual operating budget. Today, through this enduring partnership, Gilchrist provides the $80,000 per year that allows Nkoaranga’s dedicated team to deliver life-changing care to patients and families who would otherwise go without.
Facing Challenges Head-On
Nkoaranga serves a region grappling with immense barriers: poverty, malnutrition, the stigma of HIV/AIDS, drought, and long, rough journeys to reach any healthcare services. Approximately 76% of the patients are living with HIV/AIDS, yet many suffer in silence, cut off from medication and social support.
But the Nkoaranga team — a doctor, social worker, palliative care coordinator, chaplain, driver, and 12 trained volunteers — brings care directly to patients’ homes. Every month, they care for over 130 patients across a 40-mile radius, delivering not just medical support but also emotional care, education, and sustainable solutions to help families survive and thrive.
What Makes Nkoaranga’s Model Unique
Key elements of the program include:
Home-Based Palliative Care — Offering pain and symptom management alongside education for patients and caregivers.
Support Groups — Monthly gatherings for adults and children living with HIV/AIDS provide vital peer connection, access to food, medication, and learning tools.
Kids Club — Supporting more than 30 children each month, the Kids Club provides mentorship, meals, medical follow-up, and educational scholarships.
In 2024 alone, Nkoaranga’s small but mighty team conducted over 170 home visits and served 123 additional patients and families beyond their monthly caseload.
Hope on a Dirt Road: Jessica’s Story
During a March 2025 visit to Tanzania, Gilchrist leaders Diane Sancilio, Director of Counseling and Support, and Robin Contino, Associate Director of Counseling and Support, had the privilege of meeting Jessica — a 25-year-old mother of two who greeted them with a warm smile and hug on a long, dusty road.
Jessica’s life has been shaped by hardship. After escaping an abusive relationship, she moved back in with her parents and was recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Accessing life-saving insulin has been a constant struggle. Together with Nkoaranga’s team — Dr. Bakari, Program Coordinator Asifwe, and Social Worker Devotha — Diane and Robin delivered a small supply of insulin, along with beans, rice, and flour.
But what left the biggest impression wasn’t just the immediate aid — it was the Nkoaranga team’s long-term vision. They were building Jessica a chicken coop and providing hens and a rooster to give her family sustainable access to eggs, offering both nourishment and a new source of income.
“Our partners at Nkoaranga Hospital have an incredible mobile program in which the medical team provides monthly home visits, and a robust network of volunteers visits patients and families in-between,” shares Robin Contino. “The volunteers also lead monthly kids’ clubs and adult support groups to meet the holistic needs of patients and their families.”
Why This Partnership Matters
Thanks to the generosity of Gilchrist and GBMC staff — many of whom give through payroll deduction — $55,000 is raised each year to support Nkoaranga’s $80,000 annual budget.
Our staff’s support helps sustain:
- Staff salaries
- Medications and supplies
- Volunteer stipends
- Vehicle maintenance
- Durable medical equipment
- Charity care for hospital admissions
Together, we are helping ensure that patients like Jessica — and hundreds more — receive the care, dignity, and hope they deserve.
To learn more about Gilchrist and our programs, visit: https://gilchristcares.org/