Support Terminally Ill Patients,Health Professioonals Plea

Speaking during the 4th Kenya National Palliative Care Conference in Nairobi, the health officials noted that many Kenyans suffer from the various terminal illnesses but the care given to them is extremely poor.

In attendance was Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia who also urged Kenyans to participate in giving emotoinal, psychological and spiritual support to the terminally ill.

Macharia also asked all stakeholders to collectively lobby for increased budget to support palliative care by establishing centres throughout the country.

Macharia emphasized that palliative care is not the sole responsibility of medical practitioners.

Professor Scott Murray who chairs the Primary Palliative Care in the United Kingdom said that despite Kenya and Africa lagging behind in disease control,proper care to those suffering from serious illnesses is a move in the right direction.

The conference on palliative care has brought together health practitioners from across the globe and it aims to reverse the negative trend of poor health care and treatment of patients with serious illnesses.

It is reported that people suffering from these diseases get insufficient health care and even compassion.

The ongoing 4th palliative conference seeks to address and sent the message that taking care of the sick is everyone’s responsibility.

By Rehema Juma.