NEWSLETTER2017/2018 EDITION

P. O. Box 74818, 00200NAIROBI, KENYA.Tel: 2712361 / 2719383Mobile: 0732 690 077Email: info@nairobihospice.or.keWebsite: www.nairobihospice.or.ke

NAIROBI HOSPICE

Our Current Location.

Nairobi Hospice

Elgeyo Marakwet Road,

Off Argwings Kodhek Road

P. O. Box 74818 - 00200,

Nairobi, Kenya

Telephone: Office 271 2361 / 271 9383

Mobile +254 732 690077

Clinic +254 702 198160, +254 791 717481

Email: info@nairobihospice.or.ke

Web: www.nairobihospice.or.ke

@nairobiHospice @nairobihospice @nairobihospice

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MOTTO: ‘Put life into their days, not just days into their life.’

A society in which patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families lead comfortable lives.

Nairobi Hospice is a registered charitable organization that was established in 1988.

We care for patients facing life limiting illness and provide care giver support and education.

Services are provided at Hospice on outpatient basis, at hospitals, and patients’ homes.

To provide quality palliative patient care services, caregiver support and education.

Mission

Vision

Who we are

You may make a donation via M-pesa paybill No. 982650;

for account indicate purpose as below.

OR

Cheques payable to Nairobi Hospice.

Barclays Bank of Kenya

Hurlingham Branch

Account No. 1228226

Purpose for payment e.g. Donation, Golf, Walk, Festive appeal etc

KINDLY SUPPORT NAIROBI HOSPICE

Please accept my donation of:

INDIVIDUAL ANNUAL INDIVIDUAL 5YRS CORPORATE ANNUAL CORPORATE 5YRS

All donations however small will be highly appreciated and gratefully acknowledged

FRIENDSHIP FORMYES, I would like to put “life into their days, not just days into their life”

Name:...........................................................................................

P. O. Box............................... Code.................Townl....................

Email:................................................Tel ......................................

All payments to be made to NAIROBI HOSPICE

Ksh 1,000-4,999 Ksh 5,000-49,999 Ksh 50,000-249,000 Ksh 250,000-500,000

Cheques payable to

Nairobi Hospice

Barclays Bank of Kenya,

Hurlingham branch,

OR

Mpesa Paybill No. 982650

Account - friends of Nairobi Hospice

NAIROBI HOSPICEP. O. Box 74818 - 00200Nairobi - KenyaTel: 02719383, 02712361 Mobile: +254 732 690077

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We welcome you to be a Friend of Nairobi Hospice by completing the form below.

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TRIBUTES

Denise Babette White was a very early Volunteer

and Friend of Nairobi Hospice. She came because

she wanted to help the Hospice. She was one of the

first to join the Palliative care training courses, which

the Hospice has run since its inception. From the

early days of Day Care, on a Thursday, Denise sent

her cook to prepare food for the patients and their

families. Denise was always generous with

resources, in her later years she sewed for many

friends and their donations to her were all saved for

the Hospice.

She was just a great, warm and generous person.

May her soul rest in peace. Denise died on 21st

August 2017.

Dr. ANDREW CHARLES HICKS.

Dr. Hicks died peacefully at his home in Lavington Nairobi surrounded by his family on Saturday 27

th

May 2017 at 8.05 am. We at Nairobi Hospice send our deepest condolences to Mrs. Bilha Hicks and family at the loss.

Dr. Hicks was a director on the Board of Nairobi Hospice, a member of the Executive Committee and the Chairman of the Standards and Ethics Committee for over 20 years. He served the Hospice with unparalleled dedication and great commitment. In addition to his service to Nairobi Hospice in various committees, he provided relentless support in fundraising activities and in all other functions organized by the Hospice. We are therefore truly grateful and very thankful to God for the life of Dr. Hicks and his service to Nairobi Hospice. May his soul rest in peace.

FRED IKUTWA

Fred Ikitwua who suffered from sarcoma affecting

his legs was a patient at Nairobi Hospice for about

fifteen years. At referral in 2002, he was very sick

and he appeared not to have long to live. However,

he responded very well to the comprehensive

palliative care that he received from Nairobi Hospice

team. His health improved tremendously and he

used to encourage other patients at Nairobi Hospice.

He was the Chairman of the patients’ support group

which meets every Thursday. Before his death on

13th April 2016, he was the longest surviving patient

on Nairobi Hospice records. May his soul rest in

eternal peace.

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Chairman’s Message.

The Board of Directors of Nairobi Hospice is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Ruth N. Were as the new Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1

st January 2017. She is the former Director of

Nursing services, Mater Hospital. This follows the retirement of the long serving CEO, Dr. Brigid Sirengo. Ruth is a registered nurse/midwife with a Master’s degree in Business administration (Strategic Management) from Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi; she holds other professional qualifications – BScN from Aga Khan University, Nairobi and Diploma in Healthcare Management from Strathmore University, Nairobi. We welcome Mrs. Were and look forward to her valued contribution in service delivery here at Nairobi Hospice. The Board would also like to appreciate Dr. Sirengo for her work and dedication to the growth of the Hospice and development of palliative care services in the country. She has now been appointed as Director of Education. We wish her the very best in her new role here at the Hospice.

Chairman, Board of Directors.

CEO’S Message.

Welcome to the 1 edition of our newsletter 2017.st

I take this opportunity to thank the BOD for this

appointment, enabling me to contribute to this

unique and noble service of Palliative care. Much

gratitude to all the staff and my predecessor for the

warm welcome and look

forward to us working together to strengthen

Nairobi Hospice.

As a Hospice, we take pride in our excellence in the

provision of Palliative Care services through our

values of Respect, Commitment, Integrity,

Responsibility and Trust; which we incorporate in

everything we do. Through these values, we have

earned a reputation as being the leader in our

industry over the 28 years of our existence.

Following our core mission of alleviating suffering to

those with life limiting illness and their families, we

have continued to maintain our patients and

stakeholders trust as valued partners.

Care of patients with life limiting illness & their

families is increasing in our society today especially

in relation to Cancer, HIV and AID’s. As our noble

duty, Nairobi Hospice continues to discharge this

duty with utmost professionalism to ensure that all

those who seek our care receive the services with

dignity & respect.

We invite our supporters & well-wishers to continue

being our partners to sustain this unique and noble

service.

Thank you all for being there for Nairobi Hospice.

God bless you abundantly.

Mrs. Ruth N. Were

Nairobi Hospice welcomes new employees:

Karibuni

Godfrey Waititu - Finance Officer

Mercy Kamau -Senior Nurse

Elosy Gaitugi -Nursing Officer

Charles Simiyu - ICT Officer

Winfred Mwangi - Fund Devt./PR Officer

Mr. Sobbie Mulindi

Mrs. Ruth N. Were

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Makeup day for Patients

Patients being attended to by a team from Unity College of hairdressing.

Patients being attended to by a team from Sistars.

Patients queue for hair make up

Appreciation to our sponsorsThe Board of Directors, Management, Staff and the

patients we serve would like to sincerely thank you for

the support you have accorded to us throughout

this Year. It could not have been possible without you;

“putting life into our patients lives,

not just days into their lives”.

May the almighty

continually bless you.

Thank you

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HOW TO CARE FOR CANCER WOUNDS.

Cancer wounds are caused by cells infiltrating the

skin, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. These

wounds are becoming more common due to late

diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of these wounds:

Unbearable odour, which in most cases is

caused by anaerobic bacteria.

The wounds also have a discharge especially if

infection is present.

They bleed easily due to blood vessel infiltration.

Cancer wounds can be painful.

Cancer wounds develop fistulas.

Management.

This can be controlled by use of specific

antibiotics and dressings; charcoal dressings are

known to filter the smell.

Gentle pressure may control the bleeding but if

severe, medical advice should be sought.

Prescribed pain medication should be available

at home and should be taken as regularly as

prescribed i.e. don’t wait for pain to take the

drugs.

Wounds should be cleaned well and irrigated by

your health care professional. Due to the fact

that these wounds are caused by cancer they do

not heal. Normal wounds improve with

dressings but not so for cancer wounds.

They may improve or shrink on exposure to

cancer treatment i.e. chemotherapy, radiotherapy,

hormonal therapy or surgery (for specific tumors)

Multidisciplinary care also comes in handy. The oncologist advises on available treatment options.

Cancer wounds are very distressing to patients and difficult to deal with. The patient therefore requires a lot of support and understanding. Patients’ self -esteem can go to its lowest especially if they sense neglect. Families of such patients require to be sensitive and supportive to the individual.

The nursing staff take charge of the dressings, counsellors are also needed to assist with

psychological distress and spiritual leaders meet the spiritual needs of the patient.

This is one of the topics we cover in depth during our trainings because we know the impact it brings to the patients and those around them.

Short course offered:

Pain Management

Wound care

Patient nutrition

Lifting & turning of patients

Psychological Family/Friends.

support - Care giver,

This can be tailor - made to suit individual companies/Institutions.

Contact us for more detailed information.

Year 2017/2018 Upcoming events to support our patients.

December patient and family Christmas party.

Annual Golf tournament in March.

Patient Easter appeal.

Annual Charity Walk in September.

Nairobi Hospice cancer awareness day in October.

Voices of the Hospice.

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2017 Events

Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Golfers checking in during the 2017 Annual charity golf.

Golf players having a chat during the Nairobi Hospice Charity Golf tournament at Karen Country Club (5th May 2017).

Mrs. Esther Argwings from Betting Control and Licensing Board overseeing picking of raffle tickets during the draw of the Hospice golf tournament in May 2017. Looking on is the CEO Mrs. Ruth Were and a hospice staff member.

Kenya Association of Tour Operators- Main Sponsors of 2017 Golf

Annual Charity Walk

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up,” John Holmes.

From Left, Nairobi Hospice Chairman, Dr. Sobbie Mulindi, Nairobi County Women Representative, Esther Passaris and CEO, Mrs. Ruth Were, flagging off the 2017 Annual Charity Walk.

Hillcrest International School continues to offer support by hosting Nairobi Hospice Annual Charity Walk event.

Platinum credit company at this year’s Charity Walk.

Participants of this year's annual walk seen walking through the forest.

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Pictorial

Education

Oxford Brookes Diploma Class of 2017 graduates in February 2017.

The British High Commissioner to Kenya His Excellency Mr. Nic Hailey receives a gift from the new Nairobi Hospice CEO, Mrs. Ruth Were during Oxford Brookes University/Nairobi Hospice graduation ceremony on 18th Feb. 2017.

Non health care professionals pose for a photo at the end of their training in palliative care in October 2017 at Nairobi Hospice.

Non health care professionals class in session

Day care activities at Nairobi Hospice.

Patients engaging themselves in hand crafts during Daycare, held

every Thursday.

Some of our patients learn skills on kitchen gardening using

ordinary materials during day care session.

Patients in a day care fellowship session at the Hospice.

Recent visit by Juja Preparatory school pupils and teachers to our patients