Vihiga County health officials have called for greater community support and inclusion of people living with chronic illnesses and disabilities, as well as their caregivers to improve their quality of life.
The call was made during celebrations to mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day at Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital (VTRH), where health workers, caregivers and parents of children living with cerebral palsy gathered to raise awareness about the importance of palliative care.
Speaking during the event, VTRH Oncology Department Nurse Risper Lusiji said the commemoration sought to recognise the care provided to cancer patients and other people living with conditions that require palliative care.
Lusiji noted that palliative care extends beyond cancer treatment to include people living with other chronic conditions and disabilities, including children with cerebral palsy.
“Today, we wanted to come together with children living with cerebral palsy and their caregivers. This year, we are focusing on pain relief as an essential part of palliative care,” she said.
The event was held under the theme ‘Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care‘, which highlights the importance of addressing patients’ physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.
During the gathering, parents and caregivers shared the challenges they face while caring for children with disabilities, citing financial constraints, stigma, limited family support and difficulties accessing healthcare services.
Some parents said that although they had registered their children with the Social Health Authority (SHA), accessing all the required services remained a challenge, as the services available varied across healthcare facilities. Others said they could not afford the annual contributions required under the scheme.
The caregivers also raised concerns about stigma and discrimination, noting that some community members wrongly blamed parents for their children’s conditions.
They said the discrimination had forced some families to withdraw from social and religious activities, leaving them isolated and emotionally distressed.
The demanding nature of caregiving, which often requires round-the-clock attention, had also forced some parents to leave their jobs, further worsening their financial difficulties. Others cited inadequate support from spouses and extended family members.
SHA officials attending the event explained the available healthcare benefits and registration procedures, urging parents to enrol their children to help ease the financial burden of treatment.
Among those who shared their experiences was Jackline Oriesa, who narrated her journey caring for a child whose right side of the body was severely affected.
Oriesa said her child began walking at the age of five, describing the progress as a blessing despite the challenges the family had endured.
She said she had remained committed to caring for her child despite insults, discrimination and negative attitudes from some members of the community.
Another caregiver, Eunice Otiende, recounted the difficult circumstances surrounding the birth of her son, Wayne Otiende, whom she said did not cry for six hours and was later placed on oxygen.
She further narrated that Wayne contracted meningitis at the age of one and a half years, leaving him in a coma for two weeks. Despite the resulting disability, she said her son had continued with his education and was currently attending a special school in Kisumu.
Lusiji called on other government departments, community leaders, families and organisations to work closely with healthcare providers to strengthen support for patients and their caregivers.
“People with chronic illnesses or disabilities need love, inclusion in normal activities and support instead of being left alone,” she said.
She emphasized that palliative care should go beyond medical treatment to embrace compassion, dignity, social inclusion and emotional support for patients and their families.
By Victor Zedy
