While in Kenya, Russell visited Nyeri Hospice near Mt Kenya, Nairobi Hospice in the capital, and Coast Hospice in Mombasa, meeting staff and patients at each institution.
His next move will be to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, then to Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and finally South Africa. Russell writes for ehospice about his experiences visiting hospices in Kenya.
Nyeri Hospice
Nyeri Hospice provides palliative care to patients with life threatening illnesses of cancer and HIV/AIDS patients around Mt. Kenya region in Central Kenya. It was the first rural hospice in Kenya, started in 1995 as a satellite branch of Nairobi hospice by a palliative care nurse, Kathy Semhbi with the aim to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients in the region.
I visited this Hospice on a Saturday, and arrived to the most amazing setting and facility. The Hospice can only be described as being beautiful. The Nyeri Hospice sits in beautiful grounds and was the 2nd Hospice to be established in 1995.
Saraphina Gichohi, CEO, was kind enough to give me a guided tour of the Hospice facility and took the time to explain to me the great care program the Hospice provides. It was amazing to see such an organized forward thinking organization which has a very active donor support with a full calendar of fundraising activities.
The Hospice has 2 vehicles for home visit use and host daily clinics alongside monthly seminars focusing on Hospice Law. This is a very forward-thinking hospice led by an inspirational lady, who has built a professional team.
It was an absolute pleasure to be a guest at this hospice and I wish the staff and patients all the best in the future.
Due to my weekend arrival, I was not able to shadow patient visits. It is my intention to re visit the Hospice in the future and have the opportunity to witness their professional work first-hand.
Nairobi Hospice
The Nairobi Hospice is a registered charity that was established in 1988 and officially opened in 1990. It was the first of its kind in East Africa. Nairobi Hospice cares for and supports patients and families facing life limiting illnesses especially cancer, HIV and AIDS. Services are provided at the Hospice on an out – patient basis, in hospitals and at the patients’ homes within 20km radius.
I was welcomed by Dr. Brigit N. Sirengo, chief executive of the Nairobi Hospice and Dr Donald Aboge.
To give me a true insight into their work, they kindly arranged for me to make 2 home visits, visiting 2 very differing patients of varying illness and care needs.
Dr Aboge had been working for the Hospice for only 1 year, and was the sole doctor for the Nairobi Hospice. Having had much professional experience he was very informative explaining to me the case study of patients he had treated and the development of Hospice and palliative care in Kenya.
He also explained to me the rapid development of palliative care in Kenya through the combined voices of Hospice and Palliative care lobbying the government through the KEHPCA, Kenyan Hospices and Palliative Care Association. The KEHPCA is the overarching body that supports all aspects of Hospice and Palliative care throughout Kenya.
With great delight, Palliative care is now being accepted by the government as the only option of care for a large number of Kenyan citizens, resulting in Palliative care being rolled out to many provincial hospitals. Palliaitve care is now being accepted as a mainstream level of medical service, a result of much lobbying by KEHPCA.
KEHPCA have been commissioned to provide the professional training for staff, under the leadership of Dr Zipporah Ali, Executuive Director and a veteran Hospice doctor of many years who previously worked at Nairobi Hospice.
Nairobi Hospice has 3 vehicles which enables them the capacity to work with a number of local patients. Dr Aboge visited 2 patients during my visit, a lady suffering from a rare Protein Illness, supporting her and her family in the final stages of this illness and a gentleman with HIV who had been cared for by Hospice for 12 years.
In both cases, the doctor visited their homes, conducted professional assessments and examinations and ensured that his approach was always patient focused. The patients were both very unique in terms of illness and social circumstance, both qualifying for the same level of professional care.
The Hospice is obliged to charge a token fee of 1000 shillings for home visits to cover the cost of transport. In cases of social circumstance, this fee can be supported by donors ensuring inclusion for all.
It was a privilege to shadow this doctor on his duties and be welcomed into the patients’ homes.
The attitude of patients towards the hospice are that of only great thanks and admiration, as without this service of care, comfort and happiness would be overshadowed.
With of Dr Zipporah Ali ( KEHPCA ) leading the development of Hospice and Palliative care growth in Kenya, the care for those suffering from life limiting illness in Kenyan looks very positive. I wish you all the best in the future.
Coast Hospice
Coast Hospice is a registered non-profit making charitable organisation, established in 2001.
It is situated adjacent to the Mombasa Medical Training College.
The Hospice provides Palliative Care to patients who are terminally ill with advanced cancers or AIDS. Their goal is to bring peace to their last days and minimize suffering that comes with terminal illnesses.
The Hospice runs a number of services which include:
Referred patients are offered consultation, observation, medication, nursing care and counselling services. This service is offered daily Monday – Friday 8.00 – 17.00.
Patients can be referred to the Hospice whilst still being admitted to various hospitals. The palliative care team ensure these patients are visited and provided with the support needed.
Home Visits allow for treatment and care to be provided in a patient’s home.
Weekly day care service provides patients the opportunity to meet, and share experiences with others who are also suffering from terminal illness. Through this initiative, they are empowered and are able to support each other.
Over 95% of patients served by Coast hospice are poor and unable to afford the high costs of medication and palliative care. The hospice depends on donations from well -wishers, who include both individuals and corporate organisations. Their support enables Coast hospice to reach numerous patients who would otherwise have nowhere to turn.
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