Cancer is the third leading cause of deaths in Kenya after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. It estimated that there are over 40,000 new cancer cases annually and that this number is expected to rise due to lifestyle changes, environmental pollution and low...

It is now a decade; yes, 10 years of advocating for quality palliative care in Kenya. A journey of a thousand miles that began with a single step has yielded fruits. Patients’ lives have been transformed. Those that nearly gave up are now determined to live.Patients...

“Sharing is good and with the digital technology, sharing is easy,” stated Richard Stallman. Need I say more that technology is powerful and has made it possible for people from different parts of the world to share information in a more efficient and effective...

“Vital signs are taken seriously, if pain was assessed with the same zeal as the other vital signs, it would have a much better chance of being treated,” Dr. James Campbell, MD. His words are a wakeup call; suggesting lack of proper pain management techniques to help...

The Kenya Hospices and palliative care association (KEHPCA) has been very vocal when it comes to everything palliative care entails. When the organization was formed, it was a consequence of many not knowing about such care which, in a country with a growing number of...

The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) has announced the theme of this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and Voices for Hospices. The theme is: Universal Health Coverage and Palliative Care: Don’t leave those suffering behind! CARE It isn’t...

The health practitioners’ profession is aimed towards achieving a universal goal; delivery of high quality health care services to patients. It goes without saying that their occupation involves a lot of communication with both the patients and family members....

This year’s relay for life launch event, hosted by the Kenya Cancer Association (KENCANSA), was one that celebrated successes and milestones, remembered some of those who had fallen and reminded us of the continued need to fight back. It was one that sought to make us...

Did you know that only 3% of Kenyans have access to palliative care services? That is why Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) in collaboration with the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa (OSIEA) advocates for integration of palliative care...

Caring for patients living with life threatening diseases is quite a challenging task and has to go hand in hand with legal and ethical considerations.  It is imperative to have in mind that there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding life-threatening...

Pain is an indicator of an underlying disease. When not addressed, it leads to torture; affecting the patient’s life, the family and the society at large. That is why it is good to understand the urgency that is there in addressing pain management and not just locally...

In Kenya, Article 43 of the Constitution states, “Everyone has the right to the highest attainable standard of health.” Well, during a palliative care advocacy training at Rosa Mystica Centre in Nairobi, lawyer Melba Katindi put it clear; that this is a prerogative...

“Pain relief is a human right. Failure of provision could actually lead to legal action,” those were the powerful words uttered by Dr. Gilbert Mwaka, a pain specialist at the Aga Khan University Hospital. However, the question to pose is; is everyone in need of pain...

In order to strengthen the health systems in Kenya, Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) has been advocating for the integration of palliative care services countrywide. As it stands, 25 out of 47 Counties in Kenya have access to these services....

“Working with patients in need of palliative care is fulfilling. We have met patients who had suicidal thoughts but through our intervention, their stories have changed; they now have the courage to move on with life.However, some of these patients die but we are...