First Lady: Palliative care needs to be included in primary healthcare

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has urged healthcare service providers in Kenya to include palliative care as part of their primary healthcare package.

According to the First Lady, the provision of the services will help lower the nation's disease burden.

“Palliative care is recognised as a human right, because of the rising burden of non-communicable diseases that have caused life-limiting illnesses to millions of people globally. It requires creation of systems and adaptation of how we deliver healthcare,” Margaret said while speaking at the Nairobi Hospice on Friday. 

She officially opened the facility and unveiled Kenya’s first Palliative Care Policy urging  decision makers in the health sector to ensure the services, including cancer management are available across the country.

The First Lady pointed out that palliative care is crucial in restoring dignity and, providing love and comfort in difficult times of ill-health.

She said, “We have all experienced the pain families endure when loved ones have been diagnosed with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular diseases, dementia and kidney failure as some of the ailments that require this care." 

“It is even more discouraging to note that these services are severely limited among children," she added. 

While calling for increased involvement of community health workers in provision of palliative care through training and capacity building, the First Lady commended the Ministry of Health for developing Kenya's first National Palliative Care Policy. 

“This Policy will go a long way in identifying solutions and paving way for increased allocation of resources to establish more palliative and hospice centres," she affirmed. 

According to the Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi,  the government's ambitious plan to increase the number of palliative care centres in the country will be driven by the new policy. 

WHO Country Representative Juliet Nabyonga said the organisation is in support of the country's health sector. 

The Council of Governors Health Committee Vice Chairman and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, as well as Chairman of the Nairobi Hospice Dr Frederick Bukachi also attended the launch.