Non-Health professionals expressed their gratitude and commitment to service as they received certificates for the five days palliative care training at Nairobi Hospice.
Under the leadership of M/s. Jescah Ng’ang’a, the trainers executed a well structured five day study program that imparted knowledge on Death and Dying, Multi-disciplinary Team Working, Support for care givers and Cancer Pain Management among other areas of study.
M/s. Jane Mwanyumba, who has a sales & marketing and event management background said the training changed her perception on end of life care and death.
“The grief wheel had a great impact and I am now ready to share with my family, friends and the community on aspects of grief.” M/s. Mwanyumba said.
She said she recently joined the Coast Hospice as an Administrator and Resource Mobilizer and the course acted as a stepping stone in having a better understanding of palliative care.
She added that she intends to apply the knowledge attained in advocating and creating awareness within her work environment and the community.
“The training is worthy as more awareness is required in our society to equip members of our community on issues pertaining to palliative care.” She said.
Mr. Reuben Makokha is a driver at the hospice and came to know of palliative care through his work place.
“The course has enabled me understand how to handle and interact with patients having life limiting illnesses, including cancer.” Mr. Makokha said.
He added that the course has enabled him understand that there is a lot one can do to a patient other than giving up, by exploring options of making the patient as comfortable as possible during the last days.
M/s. Mary Muraguri is a counselor by profession who chose to undertake the course to become a competent volunteer in palliative care and to apply it in her day to day professional practice.
She recommends the course to anyone who is above 18 years as she looks forward to sensitize her clients, family members, neighbours and the community around her.
M/s. Ann Mwangi is a volunteer at Thika Hospice and her boss recommended the course to enhance her service delivery in palliative care at the hospice.
“I came to know of palliative care and its importance to patients with life limiting illnesses through my dad who was a patient at the hospice.” M/s. Mwangi said.
She said the course has made her view sickness in life from a different perspective as compared to those who have not undertaken the training.
“We can live a quality life despite our health conditions. Death is natural, but how you die matters a lot.” She added.
Helping patients and their family members cope with illness challenges is her intended application of the knowledge acquired and sensitizing others willing to join the palliative care volunteer program.
In her parting shot, M/s. Mwangi said; “Cancer is not a death sentence. People have lived with it and are having normal lives. Continuous checkups could save many in early cancer detection and subsequent treatment. We should not leave cancer patients and family members walk the journey alone but we should walk along with them, giving then support and hope.”
M/s. Purity Kerubo is a social worker by profession holding a diploma in social work and she learnt about the course through a friend.
“I was volunteering at Kenyatta National Hospital and it was due to what I was experiencing with patients in the wards, especially the oncology ward, which made me have interest in this course.” M/s. Kerubo said.
She said the course has made her accept that death is for everyone and we should be ready for it as it may knock at our door any time.
“I have enjoyed the skills that I have acquired from the course. Let all hospices be blessed always for the good care they are giving to patients out there.” She said.
The trainees had a chance to interact with patients during a daycare at the hospice, a chance that gave them a firsthand experience on how patients are handled at the hospice.
During the daycare, visitors from Faraja Cancer Support Trust taught patients simple exercises to keep them fit and took them through the meditation process.
Ayala Nezal, with qualifications in the Veltheim Method of Lymphatic Drainage, Reiki healing, Body Talk practice and Pranic Healing, advised patients to exercise often to release stress from their body that will make them feel relaxed in their illness.
The training coordinator urged trainees to put into practice what they have learnt as some undertake the course to get a certificate for prestige, which goes against the training objectives.
Nairobi Hospice chairman Dr Sobbie Mulindi congratulated the trainees for choosing to undertake the course as it would make them better palliative care ambassadors in their day to day interactions.
Dr Mulindi said, “We are soon building the best center in Africa where we will be offering everything from hospice care and training. We intend to offer palliative care training at Degree, Masters and PhD level. The sky is the beginning.”
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