The shortage of specialized wound care nurses in Kenya is undermining treatment efforts for patients suffering from chronic and traumatic wounds, with health experts now calling for urgent investment in training and recruitment to address the growing crisis.
Medics warned that the shortage is overstretching the few available specialists, with one nurse currently attending to between 15 and 20 patients daily, far above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of one nurse handling between one and six patients.
Speaking during a wound care conference, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Director of Clinical Services Dr Antony Kamau said wound care remains a relatively new medical specialty in the country despite rising demand driven by increasing cases of burns, diabetic wounds, trauma injuries and cancer-related complications.
Dr Kamau, who spoke on behalf of KUTRRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Zeinab Gura, said the government should fast-track development of policies, establish relevant taskforces and allocate adequate resources to support training and deployment of wound care specialists across the country.
He noted that apart from personnel training, the country also needs increased investment in modern equipment, treatment materials and digital health innovations to improve management of both acute and chronic wounds.
“As an oncology hospital, KUTRRH experiences many wounds generated by cancer and this has demonstrated the critical role played by wound care nurses,” said Dr Kamau.
He said KUTRRH quickly realized after its establishment that quality cancer treatment could not be effectively delivered without specialized wound care professionals, describing the field as critical in restoring patients’ recovery, comfort and dignity.
Dr Kamau added that wound management goes beyond physical treatment, noting that many patients also experience psychological distress that requires compassionate and specialized care from trained nurses.
He encouraged more nurses to venture into the specialty, saying the demand for wound care services is expected to continue rising.
Chairperson of the Wound, Continence and Enterostomal Therapy Nurses Society Kenya Chapter Margaret Mungai also raised concern over the shortage of specialists, saying many patients continue to suffer due to limited access to proper wound care services.
“We need more trained personnel because patients are suffering silently while others fail to seek treatment early due to lack of access to specialized care,” said Mungai.
She urged the government to strengthen support for training programmes and policy development to improve wound care services in public hospitals.
By Muoki Charles
