KEHPCA Staff

THE STAFF

Dr. Zipporah Vunoro Ali. MD, MPH, Dip. Palliative Care – Executive Director

Dr Zipporah Ali is the Executive Director of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA). Dr. Ali is a Board Member of International Hospice and Palliative Care Association (IAHPC). She was among several others who received the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) award for her contribution to palliative care in Africa and her work on the inaugural board of APCA. She is also a board member of Hope for Cancer Kids (HCK). She has previously served on the APCA board and The Kenya Cancer Association Board.

Dr. Ali first became involved in hospice work as a volunteer in 1994 at the Nairobi Hospice. During this time, she developed an interest in palliative care and underwent short courses on palliative care both in Nairobi and the UK. She joined the Nairobi Hospice as a full time employee in 1996 as the Medical Officer and was later promoted to the post of Senior Medical Officer. She decided to go full time as a Palliative Care doctor and pursued a Higher Diploma Course in Palliative Care offered by Oxford Brookes University in conjunction with Nairobi Hospice. At that time, she was the only and first Kenyan doctor practicing palliative care on a full time basis. Dr. Ali plays a big role in education and training of health care professionals in palliative care and is part of the teaching team with the Oxford Brookes University-Nairobi Hospice. She also lectures to medical students at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Ali is also involved in advocacy and creating awareness on palliative care in Kenya.

Dr. Ali holds an MD from Ege University, Izmir, Turkey, a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Nairobi and a Higher Diploma in Palliative Care from Oxford Brookes University. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Palliative Care with the University of Dundee through the Commonwealth Scholarships. She is also a an International Pain Policy Fellow with the International Pain Policy Studies Group (WHO Collaborating Centre for Policy and Communication in Cancer Care, University of Wisconsin) and a Participant in the International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative at the Institute of Palliative Medicine at the San Diego Institute of Palliative Medicine.

Miriam Igobwa- Finance/Administration officer

Has a solid background in Accounting coming along with a 15 year work experience to join KEHPCA as an Administrative/Finance Officer. Before KEHPCA she worked with New KCC as an Accountant and later got involved in social work in the slum areas. She is part of the team that formed the first KEHPCA Secretariat. She is a volunteer in Palliative Care and is currently pursuing her Certified Public Accountants(CPA).

David Kioko Musyoki – Program Officer

David, serving as the Program Officer in KEHPCA since October 2007, is a Nurse trained at the University of Nairobi. He is currently pursuing a Masters degree in palliative care with the University of Dundee through a scholarship from Help the Hospices. He has also has taken certificate courses in Palliative care, the National Anti-Retroviral Treatment course and a strategic planning and management course. Prior to joining KEHPCA, David served as a Program Nurse and the OVC Coordinator in Narok Integrated Development Program (NIDP) and as a Tutor in Maua Methodist School of Nursing.

David has a lot of interest in capacity building and therefore is involved in training both health and non- health care professionals in palliative care which will enhance the provision of quality palliative care for all in Kenya. He also offers a lot of technical support to hospices and palliative care service providers throughout the country in the efforts of scaling up palliative care services in Kenya.

Dr. Asaph Kinyanjui – Education and Research Officer

Dr. Asaph Kinyanjui joined KEHPCA in March 2012 as the Education and Research Officer. Dr. Kinyanjui previously worked at the Embu Provincial General Hospital as n a Medical Officer and consulted for the hospital palliative unit as well as for Embu-Mbeere Hospice.  He has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Nairobi.

Patrick K. Bowen – IT Officer

Patrick is the IT officer at KEHPCA. He has over 8 years of experience in Information Communication Technology and has a wealth of experience in: Networking wired Lan and wireless Lan, hardware and software troubleshooting, computer maintenance comprehensive and preventive, routers and broadband equipments configuration, graphic design (Adobe illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign), website development and System administration.

Before joining KEHPCA, Patrick had worked with several institutions and organizations on contractual terms including Kenya Medical Laboratory Technician and Technologies Board, Factual Films 1974 Ltd, Biotec Laboratories Life Science Ltd, Africa Focus NGO, Meru Hospice, Nairobi Hospice, Wiswis Agencies Ltd, Bomet County Council and ICT consultancy Ltd. Patrick has a Diploma in Information Technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and is currently pursuing BSC Information Technology and CISCO certified. Patrick has taken the Palliative Care for non healthcare professionals run by Nairobi Hospice.

Josephine Muya – Administrative Assistant

Josphine Muya joined the Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) in March 2007 as the Administrative Assistant. She holds a Higher Diploma in Business Management from the Kenya Institute of Management. Josphine has acquired a wealth of experience in general administrative duties while at KEHPCA and before joining KEHPCA.

Josphine’s main areas of responsibility include undertaking administrative duties at the secretariat by providing secretarial support to staff members at the Association. She also deals with correspondence, telephone calls and takes messages for KEHPCA. She is responsible of co-coordinating and making travel and accommodation arrangements for board members, meetings, trainings and conferences. Josphine also liaises with the KEHPCA members as necessary and appropriately and has the responsibility of developing and maintaining an effective database system for KEHPCA membership. She also undertakes other duties which arise from time to time with flexibility.

Stephen Shiyuka – Support Staff

Stephen Shiyuka recently completed a Diploma course in Community Development Studies at the Regional Institute of Business Studies in Nairobi. He joined KEHPCA as a member of support staff in April 2010. He deals with general office support duties which include office cleaning, banking duties, mail postage and collection, paying bills, delivery of letters and other assignments as given.

Before joining KEHPCA, Stephen worked as a volunteer at the Uzima Foundation. While at the Uzima Foundation, Stephen oriented guests on the Uzima programs, delivered and collected office letters, cleaned and banked and paid bills.

Gemma James – Resource Mobiliser Officer

 

 

 

Gemma James joined the KEHPCA team as a VSO volunteer Resource Mobiliser in March 2012.  Gemma has over 7 years of experience in Project Management in the UK in the public and voluntary sectors.  She has previously worked for AIDS Trust Cymru managing a national Drop-In Centre and a regional Support Project for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.  Gemma most recently managed a regional project providing individualised support for single parent families in poverty, empowering them to take control of their lives through education, improving literacy and raising confidence & aspirations.

Gemma graduated with a BA in Sociology and Development Studies (Africa and Asia) from the University of Sussex, and more recently completed a Foundation Certificate in Professional Skills in International Development through Harper Adams University. Gemma has completed the ‘Palliative Care for Non Healthcare Professionals’ course run by Nairobi Hospice.