Palliative care is an affordable and appropriate approach to health care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

It involves the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and careful assessment and treatment of pain and other problems - physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

Ideally suited to home-based care, it supports the patient and their family throughout the illness, including a dignified death and bereavement care.