Machakos Palliative Care unit housed at Machakos Level 5 District Hospital was officially opened on 19th April 2011 by KEHPCA’s National Coordinator Dr. Zipporah Ali. In attendance were Hospital Superintendent Dr. J. Osumba, Government officials, supporting non-governmental organizations, community stakeholders and medical students.
Machakos Palliative Care Unit is the second Palliative Care Unit to have opened in a government hospital. KEHPCA has been advocating for the integration of palliative care in government hospitals over the past two years, and in July 2010 the Ministry of Health sent a formal letter to ten government hospitals instructing them to begin to plan for integration of palliative care; marking a major milestone in the history of palliative care in Kenya.
The establishment of Machakos Palliative Care Unit has been generously supported by Hospice Care Kenya.