Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) in collaboration with International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) conducted out a five-day introductory course on Paediatric Palliative Care to various health care providers.
The training which was financially supported by the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund through ICPCN was conducted following a realization that more children with life limiting illnesses need relatively more specialized palliative care compared to adult patients.
With facilitators from International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), the aim of the course was to create awareness in fundamental needs in Paediatric palliative care.
The Executive Director of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) Dr Zipporah Ali said health care providers especially nurses spend much time with patients, among them being children.
“Somebody has to take care of these children and we are up to the task to ensure health care providers have prerequisite knowledge in handling their needs in palliative care.” Dr Ali said.
She added that for the past two years, KEHPCA has been working hard to advocate for paediatric palliative care, mainly through creating awareness and education.
This is the second training to be held in Kenya. The first one was held in 2011 and had 40 participants, ten whom were paediatricians.
Dr Ali said this year’s training saw a rise in the number of paediatricians to over 17 among the 43 participants who attended.
“This shows that there is an increased level of awareness and that clinicians working with children do want to make a difference in a child’s life.” She said.
Congratulating the trainees, Professor Ruth Nduati, an associate professor and Chair of the department of paediatrics at the University of Nairobi said health care providers should be able to start a change where they are with the little they have and all they needed is proper advocacy.
Professor Nduati said that most important decisions are not made through official letters but even a small focused chat with those in influential positions can yield great fruits.
She said that hospice care is seen to be parallel to health care adding that there is need to separate the two for quality palliative care provision.
“We need paediatricians who will offer leadership in the field through training.” She said.
Alluding to the closed Princes Diana Fund, Professor Nduati said Princess Diana’s programs were real and that she had a character of passion for the less fortunate in society, something that should be emulated for the success of paediatric palliative care in Kenya and beyond.
Dr Jeremy Omondi from Siaya District Hospital said he loves attending to children because they do not pretend and getting along with them is easy if you understand their needs.
Dr Omondi said the training acted as an eye opener to what he carries out daily adding that there is much change needed in paediatric palliative care.
“From now on we look forward to link up with Siaya Roseline Hospice which is currently run independently so that more children with palliative care needs can receive the much needed care.” He said.
Pamela Were, EMBLEM K project coordinator and palliative care nurse, said they have just set aside a ward for paediatric palliative care at Homabay District Hospital, which they are yet to refurbish in preparation for specialized care.
“Palliative care may be similar but children have special needs that have to be provided to achieve quality palliative care for this group.” Were said.
She said that the skills acquired at the training would go a long way in running the new ward once it is equipped and successfully separating and attending to the special needs for children with life limiting illnesses.
Facilitating the training, the International Information Officer at International Childern’s palliative care network (ICPCN) Sue Boucher said there is need to incorporate parents into paediatric palliative care.
“Parents are not stupid. You can teach them how to carry out a simple procedure to facilitate health care at home.” She said
Boucher said that the family should be allowed to choose the place of death for their child rather than holding on to the child at the hospice or palliative care unit.
This came after it emerged from the training that most clinicians tend to hold on to the child at the facility of health care provision without factoring the parents’ options.
Boucher said the responsiveness and level of participation from the health care providers impressed her and said they intend to have similar trainings in future to enhance paediatric palliative care in the country.
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