Makindu Palliative Care Unit (PCU) is currently the new PCU in Kenya. Makindu hospital is located off the Nairobi – Mombassa Highway, in Makueni County. The unit was opened on 22nd February 2021 to serve patients with palliative care needs.
“The official launch will be done very soon. At the moment, we offer psychosocial support, pain management and we also have a physician in the unit. In the future we intend to have screening and early detection of cancer as well as chemotherapy,” Said Grace Mwikali, a palliative care nurse.
Makueni PCU is currently mentoring Makindu PCU. Florence Mutuku is the palliative care nurse coordinating palliative care services in Makueni. She is elated that there is another PCU in Makueni. Florence said, “Makueni PCU has been handling patients from Makueni and Makindu. The new unit will ease the burden of patients who travel long distances to get these essential services. Patients use a minimum of 500 shillings to travel to and from our facility. Now they don’t have to.” Florence adds, “We have received more than 700 patients in less than 2 months. Makindu PCU will provide daycare, family conferences as well as symptom control. I am still the only nurse but soon I will have other team members. I am the head nurse in both the oncology and PCU in Makueni.”
Lenah, the second palliative care nurse at Makindu PCU affirmed that they have been able to break bad news, provide spiritual support to a few clients and they look forward to holistic care provision. They intend to mobilize and conduct Continuous Medical Education (CMEs) on various palliative care topics. “We will do community outreach and sensitization on the services we provide,” She adds, “We will serve Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West sub-counties and also Makueni. Some patients come from as far as Kajiado to get services.”
Congratulations to Makindu Palliative Care Unit in Makueni County. The future can only get brighter as they grow and serve the community with much-needed services.