Meet Emmanuel Mayakah Onduso, a compassionate and experienced rehabilitative palliative care specialist with a rich career spanning over 15 years. Having dedicated his expertise to palliative care in various renowned institutions; including Kenyatta National Hospital and now making a significant impact as the Training Manager at Circleg, a non-governmental organization based in Switzerland and East Africa that addresses the global demand for affordable, high-quality prosthetics holistically with special consideration for economic, social, environmental and governance outcomes.

Research shows there are estimated 65 million people living with lower limb amputations globally, with 1.5 million added each year. By 2050, this global need for prosthetic devices is expected to double due to trauma, life-threatening illnesses, and other conditions. With these facts, Emmanuel through Circleg focuses on providing holistic prosthetic care to individuals who have undergone lower limb amputations.

Emmanuel’s journey includes completing a Palliative Care Fellowship with St. Christopher’s Hospice in the UK, in collaboration with the WHO Collaboration Institute of Palliative Care, India. He is a proud Rehabilitative Palliative Care champion in Kenya showcasing his commitment to integrating rehabilitation and palliative care for an improved quality of life. Emmanuel has also successfully attained a degree in palliative care from the Makerere University and urges other health professionals to take up these courses. 

Having played a pivotal role in enhancing the understanding of rehabilitative palliative care during his career, Emmanuel emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for holistic palliative care.

 “Rehabilitative palliative care is a relatively new concept in Kenya and I am committed to leveraging my expertise as an orthopedic technologist with advanced training in palliative care to promote its understanding and implementation across all palliative care facilities in Kenya’’, says Emmanuel 

 Looking forward to 2024, Emmanuel, aims to expand rehabilitative care for amputees and individuals with disabilities. His goals include introducing physical therapy concepts; including establishing gyms in palliative care centers and home-based programs for patients under home care as well as advocating for the removal of barriers faced by persons with disabilities and is determined to provide appropriate assistive devices, promote independence and improve the overall quality of life for those in need.

 Emmanuel parting short resonates deeply: “Remember, disability is a club that anyone can join” emphasizing the importance of empathy and collective support for those facing life- limiting challenges, reinforcing the idea that, in the face of adversity, solidarity and love can transform lives.

As we reflect on his journey and aspirations for a more inclusive and compassionate future, Emmanuel’s unwavering commitment to spreading love through rehabilitative palliative care serves as an inspiration, reminding us that compassion knows no bounds.

#KehpcaCares and #PalliativeCare is everyone’s business