The Church of God Newtouwards in Ireland donated 50 solar lamps each worth KES 5000 to 50 homes in Meru through Meru Hospice.

The solar lamps were donated to the palliative care patients at the hospice and to the needy in the surrounding community.

Visiting from the hospice from Ireland, David Gourley said they learnt about the hospice online and contacted the hospice team.

“We are a small congregation of around 20 people with some having cancer and wanted to bless the less fortunate in a society in Africa.” Gourley said.

He said that they targeted people from a poor background and the school children especially standard eight pupils to help them prepare for their national examinations without worrying of the kerosene cost.

“We are thankful for making a smile to palliative care patients at Meru Hospice and the community at large.” Meru Hospice Programs Officer Gladys Mucee said.

Since its registration, Meru Hospice has offered palliative care to over 3000 patients in addition to training health care professionals, volunteers and community Health workers.

Over 500, Health care professionals, community health workers and volunteers from Meru County have received training on palliative care for from Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA).

Meru Hospice has a 4WD vehicle which is used to visit patients at home.

To boost their income, the hospice has a Posho mill located in Gakoromone Market whose clientele is slowly picking up.

The programs officer at the hospice M/s. Gladys Mucee said that they don’t have enough trained and skilled hospice workers in Meru County adding that there is great urgency to step up in the area of training.

“Most of the patients have poor social economic status and cannot be able to pay drugs offered to them even at a very low cost.” M/s. Mucee said.

She says there is a delay in getting a title for the hospice plot given by the Municipal Council at Mwenda Antu where they intend to put up a Hospice Resource Center.

Though they have a vehicle to facilitate home visit, the programs officer said that poor infrastructure in the county make it difficult for them to reach all patients at homes.

Meanwhile, Meru Hospice offers its services in a rented premise in Kinoru, Makutano area but is hopeful of getting a bigger area of its own to offer quality care to more patients with life limiting illnesses.

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