It was 10°C at Heathrow, and 32°C at Mombasa, a little like walking into a sauna!  That warmth was matched by the warm welcome I received, not just at Mombasa, but at each of the other hospices too.  Hospice staff took genuine pleasure from showing me their work, introducing me to some patients,

Liz Salmon with Pius Mwanguwe, Dr. Christine Kisia, Dr. Dickson
Mwakangalu and Faustin Mgendi of Coast Hospice

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and sharing the problems as well as the satisfaction of their achievements.

For me, it was very humbling.  It is hard to describe the difficulties under which the hospices operate: such as complete lack of morphine, because of a hold up at Customs; and the choice that some patients have to make - a journey to the hospice, or food for the family.  What stands out is the dedication of staff and volunteers, some staff even working with no salary because of the needs of the patients.

I have come back from my monitoring visit to the pre-Christmas madness in the UK.  Of course, it is great to celebrate and to give gifts.  But to give where there is already plenty is one thing.  To give where there is a great lack seems to me to be much more what Christmas is about.

What do you think?

Liz Salmon

A Case Study from Eldoret Hospice
George Nyongesa

George Nyongesa, 41/2 years old, was diagnosed with vascular tumor of the face at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. He was referred to Eldoret Hospice, the main referral centre for terminally ill patients in the area.

At that time, he was in severe pain and on Cytotoxic treatment. His pain became well controlled with medication from the Eldoret Hospice.

George�s illness started as a small swelling behind the ear and progressed very fast, making him weak. He is the fourth born in a family of five siblings where the father and mother are casual workers.

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George Nyongesa with his
father at Eldoret Hospice

Eventually, George's father had an impossible decision to make. The fees he would incur if his son died in hospital would have been more than he could afford. But to take his son home before he died might diminish the comfort of his last days.

Finally, he decided to take George home while he was still alive.

Mrs. Elizabeth Sipalla, Care Team Leader

As some of our supporters may be aware, the Nairobi Hospice was recently given a one-acre plot of land by the Kenyan Government within the grounds of the Kenyatta National Hospital.

The Hospice is currently based in a cramped, makeshift facility that is proving increasingly unsuitable for the growing requirements of both patients and staff.

A bold and exciting project has been planned for the new site. The brief for the new building is based around the need for a more cost-effective hospice that can cope with the enhanced volume and scope of work now undertaken. It is also intended that the new stand-alone building should raise the profile of palliative care in Kenya by acting as a national centre of excellence in terms of its treatment and care facilities.

Side elavation of the proposed new hospice building

"The new building will help us to perform better and make a vast difference to our capacity to care for terminally ill patients", said Dr. Verjee, Chairman of Nairobi Hospice.

The cost of the planned building is Kshs 150 million (about �1.1 million). However, the Nairobi board have come up with a number of ideas that guarantee the new hospice will have a healthy, long-term, financial base.

A 'Doctor's Plaza' has been planned for part of the new site. This would give office space to private doctors' practices. The rent that would be generated, combined with the revenue from the hospice's endowment fund will hopefully mean that the new centre could attain self-sufficiency in the not too distant future.

At its heart this plan is based around giving more terminally ill Kenyans a better chance of some dignity and quality of life in their final days.

The team at the Hospice are looking to 'raise the bar' in terms of African Palliative care. Nairobi Hospice clearly needs our help to make a necessary and exciting new building become a reality.

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The satellite service, begun in January 2003 with the help of Nyeri Hospice, has so far provided care for 48 patients with cancer and 1,000 with HIV/Aids. The hospice is situated in the grounds of Nyahururu Hospital which has provided two rooms. The clinic is run by three nurses who have received between them have received six weeks orientation training in Nyeri Hospice and two weeks training for professional care givers at Nairobi Hospice. Their salaries are paid by the government. The hospice is functioning well and patient numbers are increasing and the hospice is performing well, despite the fact that they are not able to make home visits. However, home visits can be made once a month with the vehicle from Nyeri Hospice.

Nyeri

Coast

Kisumu

Nurses Rhona Lura Badia and
Dorine Ochieng

Rose Naylik

Hundreds of school children, teachers, parents, corporate representatives and well-wishers braved the sweltering coastal-side city heat to participate in the annual Coast Hospice Awareness Walk held on October 25, 2003 in Mombasa. The ten-kilometer walk whose theme was �Reaching out to the Terminally ill�, saw about one thousand participants trek through the usually busy city roads and intersections before coming to an end at the Mama Ngina Drive grounds.

By the end of the day, all were satisfied that they had made immense contribution in a variety of ways, and felt they had left an indelible mark by increasing the awareness of the need for palliative care and pain control among those living with terminal illness. Proceeds from the walk (the total figure will be announced shortly) will be utilized in improving operations and meeting demands of activities at the growing hospice. The next such event will be held in the last quarter of 2004.

Bobi Odiko

In the interests of economy, we have decided not to replace our old and tired fax machine, which saves us the cost of a new one and the rental of a second telephone line. HCK rents an office in Bristol Diocesan Church House, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and the Board for their help and generosity, and for the use of their office facilities (including the occasional use of their fax machine!).

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Thank you to all our friends and supporters who responded to our last newsletter. I hope I thanked everyone individually, but if I did miss anyone, I apologize.

Thanks too to those of you who give by standing order - it is so helpful as it allows us to plan more effectively. For example �20 per month covers the cost of morphine solution for one patient.

Particular thanks to The Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust for their very generous grant.

Tiverton Coffee Morning

Voices for Hospices Concert, Malvern College

Gwyn and Iain Sloan outside Malvern College

A huge thank you to Gwyn and Iain Sloan for organizing the concert and all the performers who took part in this truly magnificent musical feast. From Handel�s Zadok The Priest to Siyahamba, a Zulu melody, the concert had something for everyone.

Kate Jones

Three Peaks Challenge

Gwen (Bar) Cottrell and Kim Maylor

Saturday 20th March 2004

For details tel: 01548 531 617

May 2004

Good Luck to Kim and Dave Maylor who will be doing the National 3 Peaks Challenge (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in under 24 hours. They will each tie a khanga to their rucksacks!

The Malaika Ball - 19 March 2005

Following the tremendous success of the 1998 Malaika Ball we are planning a second ball at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, on 19 March 2005. Owing to extremely generous sponsorship and support, the 1998 ball raised over �11,000 for Hospice Care Kenya. We are hoping to obtain similar sponsorship and have broken the expenses down as follows (based on 264 guests): Starter: �1,848 Main course: �4,752 Dessert already sponsored Band estimated at approx: �1,000 If anyone is able to help with sponsorship in any way I would be extremely grateful if you would contact me directly on 01684 561074. Very many thanks to all those who attended and supported the Malaika Ball in 1998 we look forward to another super evening! Gwyn Sloan

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Effective ways of giving for taxpayers

Gift Aid

If you are retired or in paid employment, please, please sign a Gift Aid Declaration. For every pound donated we can claim 28.2p from the Government. For example, on a donation of �50.00 we get an additional �14.10.

Give as you earn

Did you know that Give As You Earn is the most tax-effective way to give regularly to HCK? This scheme enables employees to give to charities directly from their pay before tax. In addition some enlightened employers like BP and BT, operate a matching scheme whereby for every pound donated the employer also donates a pound and some like The Royal Bank of Scotland double the donation. AND until April 2004 the Government is adding an extra 10% to all donations. There are just a few months left to take advantage of this added bonus.

If anyone is interested in this form of giving please contact the office on 0117 907 4205, or the Charities Aid Foundation on 01732 520 019. Alternatively visit the website at All about Giving.

Giving through the Self-Assessment Return

If you are entitled to a tax refund from April 2004, you could nominate a charity to receive all or part of any repayment due to you. One of the advantages of this scheme is that the Inland Revenue will pay gifts of this kind directly into the charity�s bank account inclusive of the Gift Aid amount. This means that the charity can make use of the donation and the Gift Aid at the time of receipt. It also means that for the first time the charity can benefit from Gift Aid on anonymous donations.

Hospice Care Kenya has registered with the Inland Revenue for this scheme. If you would like to nominate Hospice Care Kenya to receive a part of any self-assessment tax refund due to you, our unique reference code to quote for this purpose is ZAH49JG.

Legacy

Giving from your will can help reduce the inheritance tax payable on your estate. For a legacy leaflet please contact the office.

More information