Our History

Hospice Africa Ireland (HAI) celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. The creation of the HAI Board and its ongoing work reflects the special relationship that Dr Anne Merriman, Founder of HAU, had with Ireland. She came from Liverpool to join the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1953 and from there completed her studies in University College Dublin (UCD). She received numerous Irish honours including the Irish Presidential award medal in 2014 as well as academic awards from alma mater UCD and fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) in recognition of her work.

HAI Board Structure

HAI is a registered Irish charity (CHY13431 and Company Registration Number 20041786) and many of the current Board members have been volunteers with Hospice Africa Uganda over the years. The Board holds monthly meetings and has a close relationship with the team in Hospice Africa Uganda. Through the work of the HAI Board formal relationships have been established with the Irish Hospice Foundation, UCD, and others.

Current Board Membership (Nov 2024 to present)

• Dr Siobhán Kennelly (Interim Chair)
• Rachel Stephens (Secretary)
• Niall O’Sullivan (Treasurer)
• Adam Sweetman
• Michael Corless (Chair, Anne Merriman Foundation)
• Michael McGoldrick
• Dr Patrick Felle
• John O’Connor
• Dr Deirdre Ryan

A special thanks to all previous board members for their dedication and commitment.

Events and Activities

HAI AGM and Gathering (Nov 2024)

The annual HAI AGM is a wonderful opportunity for supporters near and far to come together to support and hear about the work of the team in Uganda as well as carrying out the formal requirements of the AGM. In recent years we have been fortunate to hold this gathering in UCD marking the 30th anniversary of the foundation of HAU (2023) and the 25th anniversary of HAI (2024). We look forward to updating you with details for the event in November 2025 in the near future.

Events and Fundraising

Irish Ambulance Drive 2024/25 

In January 2025, a group of 30 Irish volunteer drivers led by Tom Doyle and John O'Kelly completed a 2,000km journey from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Kampala, Uganda, delivering 15 donated ambulances and fire engines. The journey was undertaken in memory of their friend Ambrose Blaine, an Irish pilot and adventurer with a strong connection to Uganda and HAU. Alongside the delivery of the vehicles, the drivers’ incredible efforts raised over €110,000, providing vital support for the work of HAU. A big thank you to all involved.

Nollaig na mBan  5th Jan 2025

The Nollaig na mBan event at Rasam Restaurant in Sandycove marked the opening event in a great calendar year of fundraising. We were delighted to be joined by Irish journalist Miriam O’Callaghan who kindly agreed to have the tables turned and be interviewed by HAU volunteer Miriam Donohoe. Many thanks to Miriam Donohoe for organising this event.

VHI Women’s Mini Marathon June 2025 

We were delighted to be joined by 39 willing volunteers on June 1st who ran supporting Hospice Africa Uganda. A fantastic total of €13,000 was raised. We were delighted to be joined by Mary Nakaliika who joined us from Uganda having lived with and taken care of Dr Anne over many years. A huge thanks to all contributors and volunteers (with a special word of thanks to Dr Deirdre Ryan) and we look forward to seeing you all next year.

What Do These Activities Support

Monies raised by HAI go directly to Hospice Africa Uganda to support clinical activity in patient care, education and training and core activities. There are also specific projects undertaken through the board to support various activities on the ground in Uganda.

Projects and Partnerships

The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) – Scholarships Project

From 2022 to 2025, the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) funded 67 scholarships in Palliative Care. These scholarships enabled students to study and train at the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa (IHPCA) at HAU in Makindye, Kampala. These scholars are now equipped to provide essential palliative care in some of the most remote and underserved regions of Africa. In addition to scholarships, IHF also supported an upgrade of the student online learning portal, further strengthening the Institute’s capacity to deliver high-quality training. This highly impactful project has enabled HAU to advance its mission of expanding access to palliative care professionals across the continent, contributing meaningfully to Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 4 (Quality Education).

Mobile Hospice Mbarara (MHM) Renovations Project 

HAI has been a long-term supporter of MHM and the majority of the MHM’s operational budget is supported by HAI. In the past year, HAI has provided back up support and funds to a project which has seen the renovation of MHM’s buildings. These renovations have modernised the facilities ensuring that the team can continue to provide high quality palliative care to patients in the region.