At the close of the four day Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) training organised by Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA), health care workers from 11 Level 5 Hospitals across the country admitted that they had limited knowledge on how to take care of children with life threatening illnesses.
The participants expressed satisfaction at the knowledge they had gained from the training, terming it as a ‘game changer’ in the way they have been looking at children at their centres of service provision. Each participant was also provided with a complimentary copy of the Oxford Textbook on Children’s Palliative Care in Africa, edited by Dr Justin Amery.
“The fears I had in dealing with paediatric patients who need palliative care has reduced because I have gotten knowledge on how to handle them. The training has made me know that it is possible to integrate palliative care into the existing systems in our hospital to improve the quality of life of children,” said Fidelis Mwaniki from Machakos Level 5 Hospital.
Dr Shiundu Jackline from Naivasha County Hospital said, “In our hospital, we are yet to have a paediatric palliative care team. I have learnt of the need to start this programme as there are many groups of children who would benefit from it. I intend to further educate my colleagues on pain management in whichever department as no person, whether child or adult should have to live in pain.”
Dr Valentine Sing’oei from Jaramogi Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) said that she is motivated and empowered to continue working in the oncology unit having identified the gaps and solutions to their challenges. “I have improved on breaking bad news, spirituality in PPC, how to take care of self so as to avoid burnout, how to involve family/guardians and how to communicate with children,” she added.
These are just a few of the positive comments from participants at the training.
Click here to read the full report on the Kenyan ehospice edition.
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