Providing Palliative Care in Kenya

Jambo Palliative Care Supporters,

Hello from Eldoret! I arrived January 4^th to sunshine and 70-degree weather. A very welcome break from the cold of Indianapolis. Moreover, it is great to see the important work ongoing by the dedicated physicians, clinical officers, and nurses here in Kenya.

This trip, I’ve been joined by a fantastic Palliative Care Fellow Amith Rao. He is here as part of his clinical training in palliative care at Indiana University and has been working with the teams at the hospitals in the area. His presence makes me think back to my first trip here when I was doing my Palliative Care Fellowship. In the ensuing 10 years, your support for our efforts has fostered expansion of clinical care, teaching, and research in Western Kenya.

Looking ahead, we have several goals for 2026. Two Kenyan physicians are enrolled in our 2-year Palliative Care fellowship, the first board certification program in Africa. We plan a third class of our Palliative Care Specialist Program for clinical officer. We have two additional IU fellows coming in this Spring to work with our Kenyan colleagues. We are seeking funding from the NIH to expand on our work in delivering palliative care to rural Kenya through training Community Health Promoters. Honestly, we do not know how the grant will be viewed, given the changes at US National Institutes of Health. Nevertheless, we will try our best.

As I prepare for my trip home later this week, I have been reflecting on the changes in USA support for global health initiatives. It intensifies the gratitude I have for your support. Thanks for helping to make the world a better place.  

With great appreciation,

Ken