It isn’t very often that your donors visit the projects they have supported. Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) and its member institutions were delighted to host a team from Hospice Care Kenya (HCK) this month (September 2015). Ms. Elizabeth Salmon (fondly know as Liz), who is the Chair of HCK Trustees, Ms. Sally Hull- a Trustee and Ms. Lee Baker – HCK Director are the great team that made the trip to Kenya. It was the first time for Lee to come to Kenya.
HCK Hospice Care Kenya whose motto is‘working together so that in Kenya no one has to die in pain – umoja! (togetherness) is an independent UK charity established in 1991 to promote the development of the hospice movement in Kenya. HCK raises funds in the UK to support the development and delivery of palliative care in Kenya. Between 2014-2015, HCK gave grants to the total of £74,957 one of the largest amounts HCK has ever given in a year to twelve different organizations. Demand for funding from HCK is ever growing and this year, HCK received 27 applications from 19 organizations totaling to £214,080.
Hospice Care Kenya raises funds in the UK to support the development and delivery of palliative care in Kenya. It funds: training, nurses salaries, drugs and running costs. More information on HCK’s work is available on http://www.hospicecarekenya.com/
‘Thank you so much KEHPCA Team for making us so welcome and sharing you plans with us. It was good to meet the team and hear the variety of projects being undertaken and amazing to see the progress that has been made’ says Liz. Liz also praised the work being done by different hospices and hospitals in ensuring quality palliative care for their patients (and families); she praised the Kenya Medical Training College and KEHPCA for the successful launch and development of the Diploma In Palliative Care Course that is soon to graduate its first 24 students and has the second lot of 25 students undertaking the course. In particular, Liz and her team praised Dr Julius Onyango of Kisumu Hospice for the work he has done of training various groups all around Kisumu
The HCK Team visited various institutions: Thika Level Five Hospital Palliative Care Unit; Machakos Level 5 Hospital Palliative Care Unit; Nakuru Hospice; Nairobi Hospice and Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association,
‘We are always grateful for your kind support to various institutions across the country. Your support makes a big difference! ‘Karibu Tena’ (welcome back) HCK- we are always delighted when our supporters visit us’ says Zippy – KEHPCA’s Executive Director.