Our History
Prior to August 2001 the Coast Province lacked this essential service, compelling patients with life limiting illnesses to travel to Nairobi in search of Palliative Care. In this regard, a small group of volunteers agreed to look into modalities aimed at establishing a Hospice in the Coast Province.
The group facilitated the training of a doctor, Clinical Officers and two nurses in palliative care at the Nairobi Hospice and thereafter approached Dr K Shikely – the former Chief Administrator of Coast General Hospital – for space to enable them offer these services. The hospital management was kind enough to host the team and thus allocate two rooms at the Amenity Wing in August 2001, where the Hospice has operated until 2006. That same year, they moved them to the current premises next to the Medical Training College.
Since its inception, the Hospice has been able to provide care to over 7036 patients. On average the Hospice attends to 75 patients every week through the out-patient services and 15 patients through home visits. On average, a cancer patient requires Kshs 3,000/= per month for pain management and other symptom control. Though this figure is based on highly subsidized prices of drugs, most patients cannot afford because they come from very poor backgrounds.
