The Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) is a national association representing and supporting hospices and palliative care providers in Kenya. Over the years, KEHPCA has played an active and critical role in advocacy to promote and support acceptable, accessible, and affordable quality palliative care for individuals and families by creating networks of informed and empowered institutions in Kenya in partnership with the palliative care providers. Through these efforts, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has recognised palliative care as an important component of health.
Kenya has a national palliative care policy that provides a legal framework that guides its domestication and implementation. Based on the continued advocacy, support and partnership with the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA), World Health Organization (WHO), the African Palliative Care Association (APCA), and other key stakeholders, palliative care is being recognised as an important specialty in health. Recently reorganisation at the MoH in Kenya, has placed Palliative and Aged Care as a new Division in the Kenyan Health structure.
This brings the goal of having palliative Care integrated into Kenya’s healthcare system and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) one step closer. For several years, palliative care has been domiciled within the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) in the MOH Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Division. Palliative care service provision cuts across multiple health specialties and having it stand out in the division level at the MOH is a positive milestone. It is hoped that the reorganisation will make huge strides in achieving bigger milestones in this important field. KEHPCA continues to advocate for access to palliative care for all in need across the Country.
Leave a Reply