A graduate student researched the challenges to treating cancer in Nairobi, Kenya and created a proposal to improve patient outcomes at the Nairobi Women’s hospital.
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service student Nicole Maddox of Pine Bluff, Ark., spent seven months in Kenya conducting a two-part study to provide recommendations for program development to help the hospital address a critical problem: high mortality rates in patients with cancer.
The occurrence of cancer in Africa has increased significantly within the past ten years. Although it has been undocumented for decades in Kenya, patient outcomes from the Nairobi Women’s Hospital explain the need for attention in the area of cancer control and prevention in this country.
“Cancer is new for us and identifying ways to provide higher quality, more responsive treatment is a discussion we can’t afford to avoid,” said Dr. Gabriel Njue, Chief Medical Director of the Nairobi Women’s hospital. “We must start the conversation and with this analysis and list of recommendations, it will help us to begin addressing the gaps.”
At Nairobi Women’s, over 50 cancer patients are seen per month, and that number has increased steadily over the past 5 years. When compared to cancer care in the US, there are four difference variables the make treatment in Kenya different: (1) the cancer itself, (2) the patient in which the cancer has been diagnosed, (3) the caregiver, and (4) the context of or environment in which all of this occurs. The majority of patients are uninformed and have a little understanding of the nature of the disease. Most importantly, support services for managing the emotional side effects of the disease do not exist; since cancer is so new very little attention is focused on psychosocial support.
The proposal reflects on the harsh realities of treating cancer in a developing country. It will include a recommendation for a Women’s Cancer Support group, ways to plan cancer screening events, and maintaining partnerships at the Nairobi Women’s hospital.
Maddox completed the project as part of the Clinton School’s Capstone program, the final of three field service projects in the Master of Public Service degree program.
About the Nairobi Women’s Hospital
The Nairobi Women’s hospital (NWH) is a private hospital located in Nairobi, Kenya. Founded in 2001, the mission of NWH is to deliver healthcare with passion to women in Kenya. NWH works towards this by ensuring that healthcare providers are well skilled with the knowledge, passion and dedication. NWH’s offers affordable healthcare services in four regions operating through its seven branches. With seven branches, the hospital serves a large number of women and their families from low to middle incomes. All hospitals have surgery facilities, a fully established maternity wing, male and female general wards, pediatric wards, and private accommodation options. www.nwch.co.ke