Providing Palliative Care in Kenya

Hopefully everyone is enjoying a production summer whike taking advantage of the warm (sometimes hot!) weather.

Lots of exciting things to report. Your support will allow us to hire Dr. Hussein Elias who will serve as the palliative care coordinator for AMPATH. He will join the team in September. He is a Kenyan who obtained his medical degree in Russia. He is now completing his residency in Family Medicine. He has a passion for palliative care, and as a resident expanded the palliative care program in Webuye Kenya. In addition to his role in the Palliative Care Diploma Program, your support will allow him to explore the use of Community Health Workers in providing palliative care services. Many of you may not be familiar with Community Health Workers but they are common in low to middle income countries. They have limited formal medical training, and many are volunteers, but they are often the only medical service available in rural areas. Dr. Elias feels they could serve as the eyes and ears for patients who return home after receiving palliative care services at a medical center. Your support will help conduct fund training sessions throughout Western Kenya.

 Dr. Lindsay Dow from Mount Sinai Medical School will be visiting Eldoret in September and November. She has conducted training on communicating difficult news during her prior trips and will be speaking at the African Palliative Care Associate meeting on this topic. She teaches palliative care to medical student and residents and has been co-developing the training program. I plan to visit in October to help keep things moving.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and as always, thank you so much for your support! Ken