Orange Foundation focuses on palliative care in its staff volunteer week

Children at the cancer ward in Kenyatta National Hospital’s Paediatric Oncology ward in Nairobi had a reason to smile as employees from Orange Kenya spent quality time with them.

The members of staff gave out toys and children’s books among other presents to the children before cutting a cake to mark the start of a week long project.

The project dubbed ‘Solidarity Week’ by the Orange Foundation aims to reach out to various groups of people suffering from health problems, disability and those with economic hardships across the globe.

“The volunteering week will engage our staff in sharing their skills and talents in service to other community members,” The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Angela Ng’ang’a – Mumo said.

Mumo said that the company is in the final stages of confirming proposed partners, most of whom are member institutions with the Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA). She added that the ongoing events would act as a preparation to the launch of the Orange Foundation in Kenya before the end of 2012.

Speaking shortly after visiting the wards, the Orange Internal Communications Manager Martin Gitau said that palliative care is one of the areas they have identified to reach more patients with life limiting illnesses.

Gitau said that a similar visit was ongoing at the Coast hospice as they looked into ways of rolling out the project country wide.

Once the project becomes fully operational, Gitau said it will give hope to a large populace facing various challenges in life.

Orange is an integrated telecommunications solutions provider operating in Kenya offering mobile telephony, fixed line telephone and internet services.

Through the auspices of the global Orange Foundation, various charitable events are held within the week across the globe to celebrate the spirit of giving, generosity and solidarity amongst staff from the multi-national telecommunications company.

KEHPCA is glad to welcome Orange Kenya as its first cooperate supporter in the aim of scaling up palliative care services in Kenya in order to achieve quality palliative care for all and looks forward to working closely to reach out to more patients in need of palliative care across the country.