Coordinator for Pain Relief and Palliative Care-KEHPCA
Dr. Muinga is a medical officer in the Ministry of Health (MOH) who serves as the full-time Coordinator for Pain Relief and Palliative Care; she is seconded by the MOH to KEHPCA. She is currently supporting the MOH and KEHPCA to integrate palliative care services in county hospitals in Kenya, working to improve the availability of essential pain medicines including oral morphine solution, scale-up clinical training, update policies, and integrate palliative care with technical support from the Treat the Pain team.
Dr. Muinga is also overseeing the implementation of Pain Free Hospital Initiative (PFHI) project in several hospitals in the country with an aim of improving pain management.
Prior to joining KEHPCA, Esther worked in Webuye Hospital in Bungoma County where she supported the integration of palliative care services in the hospital.
Esther has interest in pain management as well as pediatrics. She participates in training and mentoring healthcare workers, advocacy to both national and county governments as well as developing of national palliative care documents.
Esther graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery. She is registered by the Kenya Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and is a member of IAHPC (International Hospice and Palliative Care Association), ICPCN (International Children’s Palliative Care Network). She is the vice-treasurer of Kenya Pain Society.