Presenting the award in March this year, OBU’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Beer, said that Dr Ali is an illustration of graduates from the university who have used their knowledge to promote not only her well being as an individual, that of the society as a whole.
In her acceptance speech, Dr Ali said that the greatest honour she has had in her life is the privilege to work with patients and their loved ones.
“I receive this honour on behalf of them as well as the health care professionals who strive to ensure that those living with life threatening illnesses have access to good quality palliative care,” she said.
Dr Ali said that she sincerely regarded the award not only as a recognition of her own work, but also as recognition of the work of her colleagues in Kenya and other parts of the world. She said: “What this award symbolizes is the growth and evolution of hospice and palliative care in Kenya as well as many other countries across the world.”
She told the audience that twenty seven years ago, when she received her first degree in medicine, she had no idea what palliative care was, it was not in the curriculum of medical training. As a young doctor, Dr Ali reported that she felt very inadequate when taking care of patients living with diseases that could not be cured; of taking care of patients who were dying.
In 1991, Dr Ali lost her 33 year old brother to cancer, and she was not able to give him the care that he should have received because of lack of knowledge and skills.
“I realized that colleagues that I worked with were also not well prepared to take care of dying patients. I knew I had to do something,” she said.
She has not regretted a single day of her career since then, saying: “It has been an honour and a humbling experience to work towards changing the way patients and their families are treated at a most critical time, when cure is no longer possible; at a time when they need our support most, a time when most doctors will say: ‘There is nothing more we can do for you’, condemning patients to a lot of suffering and pain. Yet, there is a lot we can do to improve these patients’ quality of life; to support their loved ones, and, to ensure that they live a dignified life, without pain and suffering and that, if and when death occurs, it is remembered as a ‘good and dignified death’. We should focus on “adding life into their days, and not just adding days into their lives’.”
Dr Ali said that without good health, we cannot easily share in loving relationships with our families and friends, fully participate in our chosen work, and contribute meaningfully to our communities among other things. That is why health is every one’s business.
“Each and every one of us has a role to play in our own as well as others’ well being. All sectors and government departments must work together to improve the health of the population. It is in everyone’s interest to improve health and well-being,” she said.
To make a real difference, Dr Ali said that departments, practitioners, policy makers and the community and voluntary sector must work together.
Her message to her fellow graduands was the following: “You are part of the team that can contribute to a healthy nation, each one of you playing their role. Remember that caring for patients is a privilege. We are allowed to go into the secret place of caring for the patients and families. We need to respect this and treat our patients with respect and love.”
“As you go out into the field, remember, there are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. I believe we all can be both,” she added.
Dr Ali thanked the Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, Prof Janet Beer, and Dr Rob Wondrak for the opportunity and for the support they have continuously given to Kenya, as well as all the people who had supported and mentored her throughout her career: “I wish to sincerely thank those who have supported and mentored me throughout my palliative care career. I would have loved to mention each and every one of them. Their dedication and support is highly appreciated.”
Dr Ali is a board member of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), Hope for Cancer Kids (HCK) and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance, among others.
She holds a MD from Ege University in Turkey, a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Nairobi and a higher diploma in Palliative Care, as well as an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University.
Dr Ali is an International Fellow with the International Pain Policy Study Group at the University of Wisconsin, as well as a Fellow with the Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative at the Institute of Palliative Medicine, San Diego.
Leave a Reply