Students majoring in psychology and counseling from Moi University Eldoret and their lectures have suggested a possible partnership between their university and Coast Hospice.
This suggestion was made during a recent visit to the hospice aimed at understanding the role played my hospices in counseling and psychology to patient with terminal illnesses.
If implemented, this partnership will see the Moi University Sociology and Psychology department and its Counseling Students Association support the hospice in kind and cash.
The team received a warm welcome from the hospice administrator M/s. Jane Mwanyumba who proceeded to give a brief of the activities the hospice is involved in.
Among the areas shared were the history of the hospice, its mission and vision, the services offered, volunteerism, support and sponsorship.
The Coast Hospice clinical coordinator Mr. Eric Amisi took the visitors through the day to day clinical experiences and challenges experienced at the hospice.
The vibrant students engaged the Coast hospice team on various issues regarding palliative care, cancer, HIV, counseling for the patients and hospice team, human resource, volunteering, internship and fundraising.
“We have learnt a lot from the Coast Hospice team, keep up the good work. I will personally participate in your charity walk in September.” Student Patrick Machio said.
Lecturer Scholastica Adeli said, “You realize the Coast Hospice team is constantly bringing out what can be done for the patients. How about what can be done for them? In this profession you can easily forget about yourself and family, hence it is important for the team to go through counseling and also go for retreats to re-energize and avoid burn out.
Jill Atsango a student at the university said, “Let us help Coast Hospice raise funds through social media and Kenyan celebrities.”
According to the hospice team, the visit was a great learning opportunity about multidisciplinary dimensions of palliative care and the art of compassion in healthcare to the lecturers and students.
Student Martin Kunyia said that they look forward to have a strong link between Moi University Counseling Psychology Students Association (MUCOPSA) and Coast Hospice before and upon becoming members.
The day culminated with the students and lecturers signing up as friends of hospice for the year 2013.
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