Our Partnership with the Kenyan Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Our Partnership with the Kenyan Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Hospice of Lancaster County has partnered with the Kenyan Hospice and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) through the Foundation for Hospices in Sub-Saharan Africa's Partnership Initiative.
It is estimated that at any given time, more than 100 million people around the world (33 million patients and their families and their caregivers) would benefit from basic hospice and palliative care that is not available to them.
Hospice care is a relatively new concept, discipline and focus in Kenya. There is little access to appropriate medicine because of cost and governmental regulations. Pain medications are difficult to purchase and dispense.
KEHPCA
KEHPCA comprises seven hospice programs and 19 palliative care programs that are located in a hospital setting or a freestanding community organization, like one that helps orphans diagnosed with AIDS. Hospice of Lancaster County works with Dr. Zipporah Ali (Zippy), National Coordinator for KEHPCA and former Medical Director of Nairobi Hospice, and David Kioko Musyoki, Program Officer.
Currently, Hospice of Lancaster County is in contact with KEHPCA via e-mail and Skype. Nine Hospice of Lancaster County employees have formed a steering committee to guide the activities of the partnership. In 2010, a group of four Hospice employees traveled to Kenya to see first-hand the needs of patients and families there and to provide medical care.
Q: How did you choose medicine as your career and more specifically, how did you decide to specialize in Hospice and Palliative Care?
I chose medicine as a career because I wanted to make a difference, especially for children. As a child, I used to see many malnourished children and I would ask my mother (who was a nurse) so many questions about these children. From my mother, I learned that people in health care could help educate parents on preventing
malnutrition
I developed interest in palliative care when my brother, aged 33, died of cancer. This was in
1991. Although I was a doctor by then, I felt very hopeless when taking care of my brother.
Neither I nor other doctors in my family were able to give him the support he needed during his
illness. He had a short prognosis and no one told him that he was going to die.My brother also developed severe pain just before he died. This was not
treated. He died a painful death and unprepared. It
wasn't just my brother; it was the same with all the other patients I came across in my early
years as a doctor. I knew I had to do something
What is your most memorable experience in your work with KEHPCA?
The fruits of our strong advocacy!
What are your goals for Hospice and Palliative Care in Kenya? What are your goals for
KEHPCA's role in advancing Hospice and Palliative Care?
My biggest desire is that all who need palliative care (including children and the elderly) in
Kenya will eventually access it. This will only be possible when the government puts a policy in
place for palliative care and pain management. KEHPCA is also advocating for palliative care to be included in medical; nursing; dental and
pharmacy training curricula. Every health care professional should have the knowledge and skills
to be able to take care of patents with life limiting illnesses.
Hospice of Lancaster County's partnership role
In an effort to promote comfort and care at end of life in Kenya, Hospice of Lancaster County will help with KEHPCA's educational and connectivity needs.
How you can help
Because there is no government insurance program in Kenya to help defray the cost of medical care, patients pay out of pocket. KEHPCA does not refuse anyone treatment, but patients pay as they are able. Nearly all of KEHPCA's expenses are paid for by donations and fundraising.
Our KEHPCA partnership fundraising committee works hard to have a variety of events throughout the year.
Volunteers also are needed for specific, time-sensitive projects. For more information, please contact Jo Sensenig, Steering Committee Chair, at (717) 295-3900.
