07.02.01.02.05. Palliative and end-of-life care services | Kenya

07.02.01.02.05. Palliative and end-of-life care services | Kenya

04 Apr 2022

These are provided at referral county and private hospitals by mostly psychologists (only in Makueni County for public health facilities) and/or social workers in addition to doctors and nurses team (Hospice Care Kenya, 2018; International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, 2019). Not all county hospitals have put in place the scheme of service for social medical workers. The medical social workers are supposed to contribute to improvement of health care services and provide counseling to patients and relatives in institutions/hospitals, psychosocial rehabilitation, home based care, and placement of patients. Other roles include providing support services to curative/hospital based, primary, preventive and promotive programmes, and activities (Republic of Kenya, 2009). Private hospitals e.g., the Aga Khan University Hospital have also social workers in their palliative care team (International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, 2019). In most cases, people with dementia receive these services especially those at advanced stages.

References:

Hospice Care Kenya. (2018). Paving the way for universal access to palliative care in Kenya.  https://www.hospicecarekenya.com/other-news/paving-the-way-for-universal-access-to-palliative-care-in-kenya/

International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care. (2019). Global directory of palliative care services and organizations. https://hospicecare.com/global-directory-of-providers-organizations/

Republic of Kenya. (2009). Scheme of Service for Medical Social Workers. Permanent Secretary Ministry of State for Public Service, Office of the Prime Mininster. Nairobi, Kenya. https://www.health.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SCHEME%20OF%20SERVICE%20FOR%20MEDICAL%20SOCIAL%20WORKERS.PDF