The relief and development agency Tearfund is to launch a palliative care initiative in Manicaland, Zimbabwe. The project, funded by the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, will focus on training palliative care professionals in the region, improving access to pain-relieving drugs and developing referral systems.

The population of Manicaland, which is located in the West of the country, has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and over 9000 deaths from cancer a year, only 1% of whom receive morphine.

Tearfund was awarded the grant after a pilot project in Tanzania was deemed successful.

The news is sure to be welcomed by advocates of palliative care provision in lower-income countries.